The Last Runner

by Shaun Stevenson, Elissa Peterson (Editor)

Ripped from his home on the Island of Jedros and slapped with a clasp meant to enslave him, Eric finds himself on a journey to the Runner Training Compound, where he must learn to fight and run jobs before the five islands of Abra have the chance to swallow him and spit out the bones.

But even on the first day of training, everyone can see Eric is different. He possesses abilities only legends have whispered about. And now the Queen has turned her eye in his direction. An eye bent on his destruction.

Before the Queen can snatch Eric away, a mysterious merchant hires Eric for his first retrieve the girl answering to the name Bella and hiding on the north side of the island. But darker forces are searching for Bella too. And they'll kill to make sure no one else finds her. Because Bella has a secret hiding in the darkness. And if it ever comes to the light, the known world will change forever.

Race through the five islands of Abra, but be around every dark tree lies the next threat. Nothing is ever as it appears. Monsters stir and hover, waiting for the moment to pounce. But the terrifying monster of all may not have claws and fangs. It might be lurking in the dim corners of every mirror, biding its time and slowly eating away at its host.

247 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 29, 2018

About the author

Shaun Stevenson has always loved a good story. Ever since he picked up his great-grandmother’s copy of The Wizard of Oz as a second grade reader, he’s known that stories, writing, and adventures on the written page were always in his future. When Shaun’s not writing, he spends his time as a Children’s Pastor sharing The Story with kids and their families.

Reviews

[Kim Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very strange story! Different from many of the others that I read.

A young man is kidnapped from the rice fields that he and his family work and taken off to be a runner. Runners are given a clasp when they are taken which put them under the control of their "bookkeepers". The bookkeeper finds jobs that they must accomplish or they will die!

Eric is different from all other runners, his band turns gold and has power that the others don't have. He has no idea how it works, but he's thankful that he has it when the creatures out there keep trying to kill him. Eric also hears a voice that tells him what he is supposed to do and directs him when he is trying to figure out which direction he should go. Eric is given a job to find a girl and take her to a designated place. He is accompanied by an experienced runner.

The girl, has power that comes from God and not a clasp and a lot of wicked people want Eric and the girl for the power that they have, and lots of very dark creatures are trying to get that power as well.

This is a clean read.

[Victoria Haugen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really neat and intriguing idea for a story, and I was captivated and drawn into the story from beginning to end. I loved the writing and the narration, and really felt for Eric and his circumstances. Sometimes both choices are bad, and that's our only option. I would love to read/listen to more in the series, and think any young adult or adult alike would like the story. Great job!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.