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Ecosystem #4
The Last Sensor
The Ecosystem will not survive
Fifteen years ago, war nearly destroyed the City of the Queens. In the time since, Queen Rebecca’s reign has been marked by reconciliation between the Ecosystem and its people. With the aid of Chief Sensor Miriam and her husband Isaac, an era of peace and prosperity seems to have been assured at last.
But then a new and unparalleled threat arises: the Ecosystem is dying, and Rebecca is powerless to restore it. Joining the Queen’s guard in the search for a cure to this mysterious malady is teenage apprentice Hadassah, daughter of Miriam and Isaac. For her, the quest is deeply personal: she seeks word of her friend and guardian Sarah, the former queen of the city who has been missing for years. Hadassah’s journey will take her to the ends of the earth, to a place of legendary wonder, beauty, and danger. And it will require her to tap a source of power even the queens have never imagined if she is to save her family and heal her world.
The Last Sensor is the final book in the Ecosystem Cycle, which includes Ecosystem, The Devouring Land, and House of Earth, House of Stone.
Fifteen years ago, war nearly destroyed the City of the Queens. In the time since, Queen Rebecca’s reign has been marked by reconciliation between the Ecosystem and its people. With the aid of Chief Sensor Miriam and her husband Isaac, an era of peace and prosperity seems to have been assured at last.
But then a new and unparalleled threat arises: the Ecosystem is dying, and Rebecca is powerless to restore it. Joining the Queen’s guard in the search for a cure to this mysterious malady is teenage apprentice Hadassah, daughter of Miriam and Isaac. For her, the quest is deeply personal: she seeks word of her friend and guardian Sarah, the former queen of the city who has been missing for years. Hadassah’s journey will take her to the ends of the earth, to a place of legendary wonder, beauty, and danger. And it will require her to tap a source of power even the queens have never imagined if she is to save her family and heal her world.
The Last Sensor is the final book in the Ecosystem Cycle, which includes Ecosystem, The Devouring Land, and House of Earth, House of Stone.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 22, 2020
2 people are currently reading
267 people want to read
About the author
Joshua David Bellin
21 books271 followersI've been writing novels since I was eight years old (though the first few were admittedly very short). A college teacher by day, I've published numerous works of science fiction and fantasy: the Querry Genn Saga (SURVIVAL COLONY 9 and SCAVENGER OF SOULS), the deep-space adventure FREEFALL, the 5-part Ecosystem Cycle (ECOSYSTEM, THE DEVOURING LAND, HOUSE OF EARTH, HOUSE OF STONE, THE LAST SENSOR, and THE GREAT FOREST), and the 3-part Book of the Huntress series (DAUGHTER OF DUST, DARK'S DOMINION, and SCARRED CITY). My latest novel, the time-travel thriller MYRIAD, released in May 2023.
In my free time, I love to read, watch movies, and spend time in Nature with my kids.
Oh, yeah, and I like monsters. Really scary monsters.
In my free time, I love to read, watch movies, and spend time in Nature with my kids.
Oh, yeah, and I like monsters. Really scary monsters.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 18, 2020
Disclaimer: I received an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you kindly to Joshua David Bellin for my eARC.
The Last Sensor picks up fifteen years after the devastating war that nearly destroyed the City of the Queens. It has been a time of stability and peace as Queen Rebecca and her people reconciled and learnt to co-exist with the Ecosystem. But a new threat has arisen. The Ecoystem is dying, and Queen Rebecca cannot stop it. It falls to Hadassah, a sensor-in-training and daughter of Miriam and Isaac, to set out and determine the cause and find a cure. This quest is deeply personal for Hadassah, as she also seeks out to find her friend and guardian Sarah, the former queen who led them to victory. Hadassah must venture into uncharted territory — a place of wonder, danger, and unimaginable power — in order to save her family and everything in the Ecosystem.
This series just keeps on giving. To say I was happy to find that House of Earth, House of Stone was not the final book and that we were in fact being gifted another adventure into the Ecosystem…well, that would be an understatement. With the state of the world at the moment, delving into the familiar world of the Ecosystem for a last hurrah was exactly what I needed.
As the novel picks up fifteen years after the events of House of Earth, House of Stone, we have a fresh, new voice taking the lead. Hadassah is the daughter of Miriam, who is now Chief Sensor, and Isaac. A character who is unsure of her place in the world, someone who dreamt of exploring the Ecosystem with Sarah, and who is insecure in her Sense — or lack thereof. Her apparent lack of natural affinity for Sensing is a point of contention between herself and her mother, and Hadassah feels confined by the path Miriam has set her. She was someone who surprised me in a lot of ways (all good) and someone who I found myself connecting with.
If you’ve followed my reviews of this series you would know how much I loved Sarah as a protagonist. Hadassah had some big shoes to fill, but she did it with ease. She’s a very different character from Sarah, that’s for sure. But she has the same kindness and strength that I adored in Sarah. Hadassah has had a bit of a sheltered life and knows little outside the comforts of the City of Queens. Her venture into the unknown brought out her insecurity and her fear, but also of her quiet determination and strength. I rather enjoyed her progression and growth throughout the novel. I particularly enjoyed Hadassah’s budding friendship with Peter, her know-it-all nerdy travel companion!
I don’t want to spoil anything in regard to Sarah and her character arc, but her resolution is exactly as I would have expected. For readers returning to the series, there is also plenty of familiar faces who make an appearance, and it was lovely to see where they ended up fifteen years later.
I also loved that we got to explore uncharted territory and discover something unknown, ancient, and well…deadly. We delve even further into the origins of the Ecosystem to a time that pre-dated it’s existence — to a power now driven by rage and revenge. Immersive storytelling and fantastic world-building, as expected!
To conclude, if you’re a fan of post-apocalyptic, environmental, and survivalist literature, the ECOSYSTEM is a series you need on your radar.
The Last Sensor picks up fifteen years after the devastating war that nearly destroyed the City of the Queens. It has been a time of stability and peace as Queen Rebecca and her people reconciled and learnt to co-exist with the Ecosystem. But a new threat has arisen. The Ecoystem is dying, and Queen Rebecca cannot stop it. It falls to Hadassah, a sensor-in-training and daughter of Miriam and Isaac, to set out and determine the cause and find a cure. This quest is deeply personal for Hadassah, as she also seeks out to find her friend and guardian Sarah, the former queen who led them to victory. Hadassah must venture into uncharted territory — a place of wonder, danger, and unimaginable power — in order to save her family and everything in the Ecosystem.
This series just keeps on giving. To say I was happy to find that House of Earth, House of Stone was not the final book and that we were in fact being gifted another adventure into the Ecosystem…well, that would be an understatement. With the state of the world at the moment, delving into the familiar world of the Ecosystem for a last hurrah was exactly what I needed.
As the novel picks up fifteen years after the events of House of Earth, House of Stone, we have a fresh, new voice taking the lead. Hadassah is the daughter of Miriam, who is now Chief Sensor, and Isaac. A character who is unsure of her place in the world, someone who dreamt of exploring the Ecosystem with Sarah, and who is insecure in her Sense — or lack thereof. Her apparent lack of natural affinity for Sensing is a point of contention between herself and her mother, and Hadassah feels confined by the path Miriam has set her. She was someone who surprised me in a lot of ways (all good) and someone who I found myself connecting with.
If you’ve followed my reviews of this series you would know how much I loved Sarah as a protagonist. Hadassah had some big shoes to fill, but she did it with ease. She’s a very different character from Sarah, that’s for sure. But she has the same kindness and strength that I adored in Sarah. Hadassah has had a bit of a sheltered life and knows little outside the comforts of the City of Queens. Her venture into the unknown brought out her insecurity and her fear, but also of her quiet determination and strength. I rather enjoyed her progression and growth throughout the novel. I particularly enjoyed Hadassah’s budding friendship with Peter, her know-it-all nerdy travel companion!
I don’t want to spoil anything in regard to Sarah and her character arc, but her resolution is exactly as I would have expected. For readers returning to the series, there is also plenty of familiar faces who make an appearance, and it was lovely to see where they ended up fifteen years later.
I also loved that we got to explore uncharted territory and discover something unknown, ancient, and well…deadly. We delve even further into the origins of the Ecosystem to a time that pre-dated it’s existence — to a power now driven by rage and revenge. Immersive storytelling and fantastic world-building, as expected!
To conclude, if you’re a fan of post-apocalyptic, environmental, and survivalist literature, the ECOSYSTEM is a series you need on your radar.
January 16, 2024
Miriam and Isaac's daughter, Hadassah, is a Sensor. Sarah has not lived in the City of Queens for years and her visits not only become less as time goes on, they become stranger. One night, Sarah comes to Hadassah but Queen Rebecca received a vision from the Ecosystem that Sarah is dead. Then, a deadly, unknown illness strikes the city. It's up to Hadassah, with the help of Leah and others, to find if Rebecca's vision was distorted and if it was, why and how, and to find how to cure this mystery illness. Only one way will give her the answers she needs and that is to find Sarah. Is Sarah truly dead? Does Hadassah receive the answers she seeks? Find out in The Last Sensor.
I enjoyed every moment of this book. Like the books before it, it was full of twists and turns. I did not want to put it down.
I enjoyed every moment of this book. Like the books before it, it was full of twists and turns. I did not want to put it down.
April 22, 2020
This was the perfect ending to the series. There is a theme of man being doomed to repeat the history he doesn't know, so Hadassah's search for truth and understanding is at the forefront of her journey. The writing of the characters, old and new, does not disappoint as they all have strong personalities and motivations that make you invested in their lives. The humor in this book was also much needed and was at just the right places (I want a wyrm as a pet, specifically Wyvern). I think the greatest takeaway from this book is Sarah and Hadassah's selflessness. They are the perfect female protagonists and inspired me in their own ways throughout my reading of the series. While the series could have ended with the 3rd book, I am so glad for this final book as it contains so much of the heart of the series and puts all the pieces of this beautiful puzzle together. Bellin truly excelled in the writing of this series.
June 14, 2020
Almost stand alone
While reading this book I won, I began to realize that as book 4 of the ecosystem, it really is not a stand alone story. As it reached the conclusion pàrtsnbegànntongel, but I really think the books get to be read in order. Despite this fàct it was an enjoyable read ànd I did not àbondone it as a have other books.
While reading this book I won, I began to realize that as book 4 of the ecosystem, it really is not a stand alone story. As it reached the conclusion pàrtsnbegànntongel, but I really think the books get to be read in order. Despite this fàct it was an enjoyable read ànd I did not àbondone it as a have other books.
September 25, 2022
This book was sooo bittersweet, even more so than the last one. The series begged for another book, but this wasn't what I was hoping for. It's good, don't get me wrong, but man. Why did it have to end like that?
August 4, 2025
Extremely boring. Highly advise against reading this.
March 22, 2020
A satisfying and page-turning conclusion to the compelling ECOSYSTEM series. The author ties loose ends together and makes us glad we stayed to the end. The best kind of cautionary tale.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews