The Last Wayfinder

by Ellen McGinty

There are no chains for criminals on Abashi Island, only endless ice.

Born into prison, Kira has only known the arctic wasteland where the worst criminals are sent to be forgotten—including her mother. When a brutal Imperial Inspector sentences her family to death, she unleashes a forbidden magic that comes with a devastating cost: her sister is cursed, transformed into a monster.

Desperate for a cure, she strikes a deal with Captain Ren, a notorious monster hunter whose icy exterior matches the unforgiving landscape. He’s everything Kira despises—rigid, lawful, dangerous—and unfortunately, necessary for survival.

As the two forge an uneasy alliance, Kira discovers the chilling truth about her imprisonment and that more is at stake than her sister’s soul. Now, Kira must risk treason and master her ancestors’ wayfinding magic before she loses her sister—and the beautiful world she’s only begun to discover.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Audiobook, Adventure

364 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 25, 2026

About the author

Ellen McGinty is an author and editor of Young Adult fantasy and historical fiction. She lives in the Tokyo metropolis with her husband, three boys, and a hypoallergenic cat. When not writing or editing, you can find her exploring the wilds of Japan with an abundance of espresso and the occasional kimono.

Reviews

[Marquise]

For me, this second book in the Hearts of Ezo series was better than Saints and Monsters. Better written, better planned in terms of plot, with less confusion about the world and its lore, and above all with a cast of main characters that was more appealing than the first.

Oh, and there’s no love triangle!

I wouldn’t be surprised if this one improvement in the second book over the more flawed first book will push other readers to like this story best, too. Lots of us really loathe love triangles in any kind, shape, and form.

Tree-ladden full review over at my niwasaki.

[Ellen McGinty]

This is a story that took me a looong time to write. It started as a Les Misérables retelling and then morphed into an arctic fantasy adventure with a touch of romance. If you've ever felt like life is full of impossible paths, dark forests, and hungry bears, then this story is here to say there is always a way forward 🖤

Kickstarter goes live September 2nd, 2025
General release 2026

[Christina Baehr]

Ellen McGinty is such a professional in the way she writes, publishes, and markets her epic fantasy books. They are always enjoyable to read, and the physical books are GORGEOUS.

One thing I really appreciated in this was that the descriptions of Ezo (McGinty's alt-East Asian fantasy world based on Meiji Era Japan) were just as lush and atmospheric by the final act as they were in the set-up. If I got a little lost at times with the magic system and backstory, the strength of McGinty's prose always carried me, and I expect it may have something to do with my unfamiliarity with anime tropes.

[Cait | GoodeyReads]

LOVED.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK

Ellen McGinty did it again. I have sincerely loved both of her books and can’t recommend them enough. If you love young adult fantasy that’s kisses only (with the romance as more of a subplot), great character arcs and learning moments and strong sibling relationships, look no further. This is the type of story I would love to share with my littles when they’re older.

I loved the depth of Kira’s character. She’s resilient and a bit stubborn and that only adds to her growth as she moves through the world. Kira’s love for her sister knew no bounds and I appreciated having that kind of bond between siblings.

The romance was also sweet. It’s got a good push and pull and doesn’t over take the general themes of the novel. I liked Ren a lot and felt like we got a good story from him without having his POV. I just loved the journey for everyone.

Beautiful story.

Overall audience notes:
- YA Fantasy + Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: moderate
- Content warnings: living in a prison camp, loss of a parent

[Meghan Dzurichko]

I have thoughts... I have a lot of thoughts...

This book starts out so good, like, the kind of book that would have me up until 3am reading because I just couldn't put it down. The writing is excellent, the world full of depth, and the characters so very beautifully human. I'm talking about 11 chapters of some of the best literary work I've encountered among indie published books.

Then, halfway through chapter 11, enter Captain Renjiro. My dudes, this man didn't kill the vibes, he MURDERED them!

The story goes from a riveting prison escape to some generic enemies-to-lovers cringe fest. Our girl Kira is suddenly reduced to a cut-and-paste fiery female lead who spends the next six chapters hating Ren but simultaneously swooning over his every move, while tall-dark-and-dreamy proves himself a walking red flag of hypocrisy and arrogance and thoroughly lacking in basic skills of communication and reason. Their chemistry from there can be summed up into "He's hot".

I'm going to sum up the next six chapters for you here: Ren doesn’t tell Kira anything useful except that he fully intends to kill her sister and send her back to prison. Kira tells him she's looking for an apothecary to cure her sister. Ren is also looking for said apothecary. Ren drops vague hints that the cure might not be all it seems and that the apothecary might be a bad guy but never actually gives her a concrete explanation about anything despite having a day-long train ride with nothing else to do but talk. Ren uses Kira to find apothecary. Ren tries to kill apothecary. Ren feels shocked, angry, and betrayed when Kira stops him from killing apothecary and agrees to help the apothecary inorder to gain the cure to save her sister, you know, like she said she was going to.

Things start to get good again in chapter 18 when Kira finally ditches Ren. He shows up again and continues to be a self-righteous prick, but it's much more tolerable from here out. In Chapter 22, they finally have the conversation they should have had on the train back in Chapter 12, and Ren proves he is as thoroughly untrustworthy as Kira thought he was. Honestly, the book is pretty good from here on out, but that slog of nonsense in the middle just killed my energy for the story.

Normally, when a book irritates me like this, I don't give it a long review like this because I deem it not worth anymore time than it has already stolen from me, but today I feel like ranting, so let's get into a couple nitpicky things that really bugged me as well:
. Quote: "There are no chains (in Abashi Prison), only vast sheets of ice and the promise of a slow, agonizing death if we try to escape."
It literally takes them less than a day to cross the ice and find shelter, and about 2 more days to reach the city. They wouldn't even have died of dehydration in that time, much less hunger.
. "You're not the kind of person who runs. You're weak." - Ren speaking to the girl who survived 18 years in an ice prison with brutal guards, lived off boiled bone soup, and the only one to actually succeed in escaping the prison. This isn't the last time he is demeaning towards her either. He has a lot of red flags. He blames her, insults her, and constantly imposes his will on her even going as far as to drug her inorder to make her rest because he know best and he's always right and he can break the law when his interests are at stake, but nobody else can.

I'mma show myself out now.

[Jane Maree]

As in Saints and Monsters, Ellen's storytelling is a beautiful blend of fantasy and a historical vibe which makes it feel incredibly realistic. Her characters grab my heart and their trials and growth is a beautiful and tumultous journey. Parts of this book wrecked me. Parts healed me. Highly recommend!

[Jordan Comeaux]

Every single star for this book.

I finished it in a DAY. I need every book in this series… and will probably buy any book written by McGinty!!

Better review to come when I have my wits about me.

But I have to say this… Ren is Mr. Darcy and Zenri is Bingley and I can’t unsee it now 🥹😂 and I absolutely ADORE Darcy, so that’s where that places me!

I was NOT prepared for the connections to Saints and Monsters and my GOSH it ruined me, had to actually set the book down for a little while 😭

I’ll be screaming about this book for a while.
It’s only month two in 2026 and I’ll wager this book stay in my top 5, if not top 3, or number one spot for the rest of the year. So. Freakin. Good.

[Kayla E.]

Imagine the 1997 animated film Anastasia meets the anime Demon Slayer and a strong sister bond in the vein of Rowan and Blythe from The Goodness of Unicorns—an utter masterpiece. The Last Wayfinder, one of my new favorite books.

The Last Wayfinder is a beautiful story weaving themes of family, sacrifice, redemption, and love in a high stakes narrative that explores choice, consequence, and the power to write one’s own fate.

I’ll most definitely be rereading in the future!

[Mariella Taylor]

Okay, I kind of loved that?

The characters were all wonderful and the sister relationship was beautiful. I also really liked the worldbuilding, though I found myself wanting to know more about the world. But I suppose I have to wait and see what might happen in the sequels.

My only real complaint is that the pacing, especially in the last half, felt immensely rushed compared to the first half, and I felt sometimes that I was missing pieces of development because of that. Which is why it was a four-star for me instead of a five, I think.

Overall though, a really lovely written story with some beautiful imagery and a great sister dynamic. Would read again.

[Journey Bloomfield]

Absolutely stunning! I loved the worldbuilding, the characters, the general vibes. . .everything. A new favorite for certain! I loved the setting, with the railroads and firearms and such perfectly mingled with lovely magic and fantasy elements. The characters were wonderful as well, I loved the sister relationship between Kira and Yuki, and all the plot twists were delightful!

A splendid read, and clean as well. Highly recommend!

[Adaelyn Lee Author]

Ok so my best friend lent me her spare copy so that we could read it together (shout out to Anna).

this book . . . is absolutely amazing. full of adventure, hope and whimsy, the story of our last wayfinder Kira wiggles it's way into your heart.

Being a fan of Miss McGinty's for a LONG time, and knowing her somewhat personally, there where definitely moments where I would say out "Miss McGinty, what is going on?!". to say this book had me on the edge of my seat is an understatement.

AND ALSO THE LORE THIS BOOK HAS, READERS OF SAINTS AND MONSTERS PREPARE TO HAVE YOUR JAWS ON THE FLOOR.

Kira x Ren forever 💙🩵💙🩵

please go read this book. Just do it

[Kimberly Dunham]

I tore through The Last Wayfinder pretty much the minute it arrived. In fact, my almost-eight-year-old was so intrigued by the cover and the stunning sprayed edges that she stole my book one evening before I even finished. I warned her that the book was meant for teens and might be a bit scary for her, but she saw this as a challenge more than a warning and kept reading.

The next thing I knew, my kiddo had devoured a whole chapter. I asked her how she liked it, and she looked up with a big grin and told me she loved it! Five stars from her and five from me as well!

[Moriah Chavis]

I love Ellen’s stories! This one was so unique but it also had Ellen’s classic style. There were a few characters from the last book, but it doesn’t have to be read together, though the story is fuller if it is.

If you love fantasy, enemies to lovers, and Japanese culture, these books are perfect!

[Janine]

When I saw this on Kickstarter and the Demon Slayer vibes, I had a feeling that this book was going to be interesting. This book is full of heart and emotion while transporting me to a world much like Meiji Restoration Japan but with magic infused. While this is the second book of the Hearts of Ezo series, after Saints and Monsters, this can be read as a standalone, and I have yet to read Saints and Monsters as of this review.

We follow Kira, who's lived on an icy prison island for her entire life, but desperately wants to know why and to learn about her rare way finding magic, but her mother refuses to answer her and only tells her to protect her weaker older sister, Yuki. She's a great character, as she's allowed to make mistakes and fail, and often doubts herself in the face of insurmountable odds, but she doesn't give up. Yuki is an interesting character, and has her own struggles. Ren took me a while to warm up to, but I liked him by the end of the story. I enjoyed most of the rest of the cast in their roles and made for some interesting dynamics. There is a hinting of romance, but it's mostly back burner to the urgent task the characters have going.

The setting was vivid and it felt like I was in the middle of the ice and snow of this prison island, then exploring the other parts of the lands with their many spectacles that the regions has in store. There was a lot of thought put into this aspect of the story and it was very immersive. The magic was visual and immersive and not too hard to understand and follow. Wayfinding was so unique in the execution, as well as some of the other magical elements that showed up.

The themes of preserving through impossible odds and redemption from one's mistakes was played out well, with a hopeful vibe to the entire situation. This story has great prose and a huge emotional heart with many of the passages tugging at heartstrings. The narration by Jane Maree was excellent and she brought out all the heartache and emotion from the prose and made it very impactful. 10/10 on the narration.

The plot was intriguing and had good pacing, keeping me on my toes with every new twist. The last part of the book felt slightly rushed, wishing it would have taken a couple more chapters to play out. Plus a major question was left hanging. The ending hints at the characters returning for a future novel, as this is a series of interconnected standalone.

This was an enjoyable book and look forward to reading more! Recommended if you like an emotionally heart breaking story with magic and hope.

*I purchased this book on Kickstarter.*

[abigail]

I enjoyed this more than the other book I’ve read from this author. But despite the great writing and worldbuilding, there are still a few things that felt a bit lacking about it. I think it’s because some things don’t feel satisfyingly acknowledged? Not sure how to explain, but I still do like these books and will read whatever the author comes out with next. I think once I get used to more warmed up to how she plans her stories, I'll like them more.
Also, why is nobody talking about how Meera is literally dead in this book?? Poor Soran. I hope somehow she comes back, but that doesn't seem likely unfortunately...

[Samantha Mendell]

The Last Wayfinder is simply fantastic. Ellen McGinty has a gift for crafting not only immersive worlds, but also incredibly relatable chatacters whose flaws and cracks afford plenty of space for Light to shine through. The main character, Kira, was one of my favorite new-to-me literary characters of the year.

This story made me laugh and cry on more than one occasion, and I’m already eager to reread it. While I already adored McGinty’s Saints and Monsters, The Last Wayfinder solidified McGinty as an auto-buy author for me from here on out. Highly recommend this book!

[Lauren Thurston]

This book started slower with a rambling adventure of a first half and a very exciting and driven second half. I enjoyed the themes of strong hope in the face of adversity, and I liked the way magic worked, both as gifts and as curses. The connections to Saints and Monsters characters made me feel more invested, and it was far more connected than I expected! I especially liked Rin- his character arc was so perfect and he is the most endearing here! I wish I felt more connected during the first half of the book, but I overall leave this book glad to have read it and hopeful for a sequel ☺️

[Sara [semi ia]]

Rtcccc 🤭

[Sidney Hatch]

This is a solid YA fantasy. There's magic, adventure, family sticking together, and dragons. I enjoy the way Ellen McGinty writes her stories.

[Rose H]

SUPER AMAZING BOOK!!!

This wasn’t my usual type of fantasy, but it’s such an amazing story!
Perfect if you love: personal quests, sister bonds, enemies to lovers, slow burns, Japan inspired worlds.

[Lanie Burchfiel]

As I got closer to the end I wondered if I was going to like the ending but it ended very cleanly.

[Jared Pierce]

great I’m just waiting for dukes and dragons

Loved especially some quotes perfect mix of no spice romance and action would totally read a sequel but the only reason I’m not giving this five stars is I’m team runa and Casmir iykyk

[Keyblade_Alchemist]

I really enjoyed this one, and wondering why in the world this was SO hard to find. No bookstore had it, looked for months on how to get it, and I ended up finally getting it by paying in advanced for it to get delivered to my bookstore, all the while hoping it was worth all the aggravation.

The first half was worth it.


I really enjoyed the story up until they escape to the train station to try to find an apothecary Kira's mother tells her about, to try to help Yuki. Then Ren ahowed up and was the worst part of the entire story and changed the tone for the rest of it. Kira changes as a character to reflect this idiot, and suddenly there's an enemies to lovers trope shoehorned in.
I shall say it again- we do not need romance in every single fantasy book. I'd settle for Zenri over Ren because they became friends. I also wanted more time with Yuki and Kira together as she began to change. Yuki was there as a useless plot point much of the time, not speaking or doing much but acting like an animal. There should've still been dialogue between the sisters as she realizes she is changing. But there really isn't any. Take out Ren and we could've kept the prison heist adventure way more intriguing and fun.

[Natalie Claire]

Oh, to find the words to describe how much I loved The Last Wayfinder!

The characters stole my heart from the very beginning. I loved the sisterly bond that Kira and Yuki shared. Kira’s fierce determination was inspiring, and I admired the way she never let fear control her. I knew even before picking this book up that I would love Ren, but I wasn’t prepared for his plot twist of a backstory. (And I say this as someone who is very good at guessing plot twists.) Zenri also deserves a shoutout! I would love to know more of his backstory. And I was glad to have a real villain without a sympathy-inducing backstory so I could properly hate him. (Give me a villain that is actually a villain!)

The story kept me on the edge of my seat as I tried to guess what would happen next. The plot twists seriously took me by surprise more than once! (The way my jaw dropped while I was listening to the audiobook at work—totally not embarrassing at all. lol) The descriptions were also super vivid without slowing down the pacing. I felt like I was transported to a different world. Ellen McGinty is a superb writer! Hope shines bright throughout these pages, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

If anything, I would complain that this book was too short. I seriously did not want it to end! Immediately after finishing the audiobook, I was ready to start it again. While it is connected to Saints and Monsters (also an excellent read), it can totally be read as a standalone.

The audiobook was high-quality, immersive, and excellently produced, but I’m also so happy to have the Kickstarter hardcover edition on my bookshelf. It is seriously the prettiest book I own!

Full five stars!! Anime fans will love this! Fantasy fans will love this! Dragon lovers will love this! Highly recommend to readers 13+

Content: zero spice/smut, zero cussing. There is some death/violence, but it is not graphic. *slight spoiler* Some scenes depict trafficking of monster-shifting humans.

[Abigail C.]

Okay I must say... I didn't enjoy this book as much as Saints and Monsters. Is that partly because I just want more of Soran and Meera? Yes. Definitely.

Anyways, I still loved the culture, world building, and descriptions. The characters are also amazing, though I do admit I was a little upset with Kira for not being more furious at Ren... when he literally kept telling her he was going to hand her and her sister over to the authorities to be killed. I loved her personality, though, and Ren's background made me so happy XD.

I was also very impressed with how well this book tied into Saints and Monsters. After going back and rereading the first book after finishing this one, I found so much foreshadowing for this book.

When I read this sentence in Saints in Monsters during one of Soran's chapters, I literally almost cried:
"During his [Soran's] fight with the wayfinder, she'd mentioned a cell in his future, one that would tear his heart out."

AGH WHYYYYY WHY DID SHE DO THAT TO ME?! I was seriously so so sad... poor Soran and Ren *sobs*. And me, ofc. I'm absolutely devastated about this and we'd better get more of Meera and Soran in Dukes and Dragons. Amazing foreshadowing, though. I'm also wondering if this wayfinder happens to eventually become Kira's mother??? Who knows XD maybe we'll find that out in the next book.

So, really the main thing that leaves me upset is I just want more XD, which is a good thing. I want to know what happened to all of the Kingdoms and why Taiga took over, what happened to Bastian, and a thousand other things. Plus, more of Meera and Soran, please. Before the heartbreak.

Amazing book, and I absolutely cannot wait for Dukes and Dragons! Hopefully it'll answer my questions XD

Content: demons, curses, mild romance, mild violence

[A.M. Reynwood]

This book is, in a word: magnificent. And honestly, writing this, I'm struggling with how to succinctly convey to you how and why it's worth every second of your time with it.

On the one hand, it's a slow-burn enemies-to-allies romance wrapped in vivid worldbuilding inspired by Meiji era Japan and gorgeously thematic with hearts iced over by suffering softening in the face of genuine kindness.

On the other had, it's a thrilling adventure through a wintry landscape full of monsters and ancient magic, compelling characters, and full-immersion storytelling that was more like storyshowing. I don't feel like I read this book. I experienced it in all its heart racing action, emotional depth, grit, beauty, and humor.

It might be a romance, but it's not a fluffy one, and I so appreciate that the conflict and tension were driven by so much more than that. Like convictions, worldview, and the value and identity of a person.

While a self-sufficient standalone, there are ties to McGinty's preceding SAINTS AND MONSTERS that, for me, elevated the entire ordeal with familiar and beloved faces. The continuity yet independence of this story is delightful and something I admire as both a reader and a craftsman.

All in all, I was enchanted, devastated, revived, and wholly taken by this book. But if you need more convincing, it's like Les Misérables with dragons and demon hunters, mysteries unfurling like spring flowers, ballroom dances, trafficking rescues, shapeshifters, family bonds, weaponized mochi, scintillating rebellions, and a grumpy/sunshine dynamic you can't not love.

Oh, and the return of the pink pants.

Long live those pink pants.

[Krista]

“Hope is closer than the stars and stronger than ice. The best way to fight despair is with our choices--the stories we tell others with our lives.”

This story is so beautiful that I became emotional when reading it. Kira and her sister Yuki grow up in a harsh winter prison with little explanation of how their mother ended up there. All they know is that the secrets protect them from others discovering Kira’s wayfinding magic. The girls are strong, competent, and resilient, yet still naive about the outside world. Because Kira is desperate to learn more about her mother’s history, her mother agrees to share her story only if Kira listens to all the inmates’ life stories. In doing so, she learns about life outside of Abashi Island, about human courage and cruelty, and above all, how stories foster a heart of compassion.

When her sister Yuki is cursed, Kira is forced to uncover her mother’s history and learn to wield the magic she’s always tried to hide. Her story centers on her relationship with Yuki, finding peace with her mother’s choices, and finding her own path even when hope seems lost. When Ren enters the picture, the romance is soft and understated. It’s there as a subplot but doesn’t overpower Kira’s personal journey. (And if you’ve read Saints & Monsters, you’ll love Ren’s connection to that book)

I adored the worldbuilding, the gorgeous prose, the bonds of sisterhood, and the questions raised regarding who gets to decide what’s right and wrong.

McGinty, you did it again, and I’m looking forward to more books from you!

[Rebekah]

This was a lot of fun, and I genuinely enjoyed it. Kira, Yuki, Zenri, and Ren were all so, so sweet. The worldbuilding was really cool, though the magic system left me scratching my head in a few places.

Honestly, the thing that irked me about this and kept me from rating it 5 stars was the fact that there weren't many sequel-type scenes. A lot of the big information reveals about Ren happened in off-page conversations with Zenri (conversations which weren't referenced until a related conversation with Ren, in which Kira is like "so Zenri told me x about you, wanna explain?" and I basically went "HOLD THE PHONE, WHY AM I ONLY JUST NOW HEARING ABOUT X COOL THING ABOUT REN???" It only happened twice that I recall, but it still really bugged me, especially since I flipped back looking for those conversations with Zenri, and couldn't find them. I'd suspect that my copy of the book was missing pages, except for the fact that everything flowed smoothly up until those points.) As a reader, I wanted to see Kira's initial reaction to learning this information & have the opportunity to react along with her (I'm one of those readers who likes to know every single tiny bit of info as it comes to light, so I can try putting pieces together along with the MC), and I felt like that was stolen from me. Hence, the redacted star.
Otherwise, I really, really enjoyed this! Twas quite fun, and I'm excited to pick up Saints & Monsters next. XD

[Victoria Clemm]

To say I was excited to read this new book by @ellenmcginty_author would be an understatement. SAINTS & MONSTERS, Ellen’s debut novel, was my fav read of 2025. Japanese fantasy, dragons, and a FMC with a never give up mentality! Three things I’m obsessed with. In addition to an incredibly exciting plot Ellen’s writing is amazing. Beautiful prose mixed with fast-paced energy. That’s why when she shared her Kickstarter for THE LAST WAYFINDER I pledged faster than ever!

THE LAST WAYFINDER is a novel about a girl different to Meera but just as amazing! Kira was born in captivity but ready to face the many obstacles in a world foreign to her with a brave heart! I won’t talk too much about the plot because I’m scared I’ll unintentionally add a spoiler 😂❤️ But let me tell you that the book was an absolute page turner and had me obsess about the many subtle connections to SAINTS & MONSTERS!

My fav quote (I literally took a photo of my kindle and read this out loud to hubby, mom, and my lil sis coz I am so in love) is:

“One minute he’s cold as ice, the next he’s the sun melting it.”

Let me finish by telling you to stay tuned… This world Ellen created will continue to bring joy to readers who love books with a hopeful message! So go give her a follow on insta and support her beautiful art 😍🙌

[Clarissa]

Well, I sat down to read this book and before I knew it I stayed up til midnight to finish this book. re-read Saints and Monsters before reading this book, just to give myself a refresher on the world and the characters.

The setting in this book is so different from Saints and Monsters. McGinty described the cold really well and the hopelessness a frozen prison like this would bring. The setting gives such a contrast to the warm and compassionate main characters -- which are so unlikely given the circumstances they were born in.

The themes of compassion, familial love and dedication, and the importance of your choices really shone through. The one question that I probably would take with me is, "What's your story?". Because when you ask this question to others, it will help you grow compassionate towards them. The main characters struggled and fought hard against all odds and circumstances, yet they come out not hardened by what they went through but softer and also stronger.

I am a sucker for courage, power of love and self sacrifice, and also happy endings. If you want to read something that grips your heart, gives you courage to do the right thing, and persevere through hardships; I recommend this book.