Last Light

Until Dawn #1

by J.N. Baker

THE ENDLESS NIGHT IS COMING. My name is Zoe and I'm an immortal, though not by choice. For the past six years, my life has been anything but "normal." Thrown into a war that's been waging in the shadows for over a thousand years, I find myself in a fight between good and evil—light and dark. I didn't ask for this life nor did I start this war, but somehow it has become mine.But I'm not the hero they say I am. I'm a monster. Not much better than the bloodsuckers that seek to destroy this world. The ones I'm tasked to kill. Each of the Chosen has a gift and mine is the gift of sight. It's more like a curse. I've seen what's going to happen to this earth and it's not pretty. Even though it's against the rules, I couldn't help but save those few I love. Keeping them alive is a lot harder than I thought. The enemy is everywhere. While vile creatures hunt for me and the other Chosen, the evil taking over the planet grows stronger. The world as we know it is ending. There is nowhere to hide, no place we are safe. We are humanity's last chance and we are failing. Until Last Light is the first installment in a story of death and despair, love and longing, and the will to keep going even when it seems impossible—even when you want nothing more than to give up. ***Last Light is the first book in the Until Dawn series and ends in a minor cliffhanger. The story continues in the second installment, Night Falls. CONTENT This book contains brief scenes of sexual assault that may be triggering for some readers. It also contains mature language.***

Genres: Urban Fantasy

292 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 2020

About the author

Teacher by day and writer by night, J.N. Baker has been telling stories since she was old enough to read them. With a passion for both urban fantasy and paranormal romance, J.N. Baker loves to write post-apocalyptic stories with complicated, badass female leads that have no filters. She believes that a sign of a good book is the sudden urge to throw it across the room and run to pick it back up. A healthy dash of steamy romance doesn't hurt either.

J.N. Baker lives with her husband and new daughter on their farm in California. When she isn't writing or teaching, she enjoys curling up with a good book, a glass of wine, and one of her many furry critters.
Find her page on Facebook to follow more of her writing shenanigans.

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Long and dark setup with no payoff

Long and dark setup with no payoff. We have the good guys that can fortell the future, but they simply let the apocalypse happen. The entire book is about waiting for the end and not doing anything.

Finally at the end they state William must have a plan or we are all dead.

Sorry, but William is a jerk that’s all about pain and letting people die. Zoe is in way over her head and at least as some humanity in her, and the enemy just won.

So no I will not be continuing this series

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Endless nights

Wow!! This book was so good, I didn’t want to put it down. It was so intense, and the main character Zoe- I love her!! Her story is filled with sorrow, love, and friendship. The other characters in the book are just as lovable as Zoe. I love Josh, Cody, and Jade. Jade is hilarious. I just loved her remarks.
William, is Zoe’s boss and he seems a bit off. Not sure if he’s trustworthy or not. His actions, make me not want to trust him. This book has a bit of romance, dystopian with the end of the days vibes, mixed with a bit of paranormal. I loved it. My two favorite genres mixed together.

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow, this book was excellent. I couldn’t put it down. This book takes the topic of an apocalypse and puts an intriguing fantasy spin on it. I love the main character, Zoe, and her constant battle between her humanity and her duty. The supporting characters are as equally fun to read about, and the tension between Zoe, Alec, and Josh is well written. I read a lot of fantasy books, and J.N. Baker did a fantastic job writing a story that is fresh and exciting. I can’t wait to read book two and see more of the story unfold. This is my first time reading any books by Ms. Baker, but it definitely won’t be my last.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/17/2021)! 🎁

[Heather Rainwater-Alvarado · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! What an intense book! This is the first I’ve read from Baker, and I was pleasantly surprised. I’m not usually one to read post-apocalyptic books, but this one had a cross into the paranormal so it took the edge off. The main character, Zoe, goes through so many trials and tribulations that my heart literally broke for her while reading her origin story. I get that it makes her into the person she is “today”, but it’s still heart wrenching. Consider yourself warned. This book is DARK. Like DARK DARK. But I do enjoy those at times to get a break from the fluff.

There are many diverse side-characters, each with their own personalities. But the really intriguing piece for me is main story arc & paranormal piece of it. The history & abilities of the “Chosen” really are fascinating.

Despite some choppy parts, small gaps & oversights, I think it’s a pretty good start to the series & I’ll be delving into the next installment soon!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll admit I didn’t know what to think going into reading Last Light. I hadn’t read any reviews and didn’t know much about the storyline or characters. I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns that unraveled as I read and i couldn’t put the book down. I enjoyed the different take on the supernatural world and some of the more common beasties that tend to inhabit this genre. I think portraying the vampires as part of the military ranks was an intriguing take on their commonly accepted roles. I also found it appealing that several references were made to the Chosen being similar yet better than vampires. Zoe is a force to be reckoned with and she is a survivor who is only going to get stronger as she faces and crushes the challenges in her path. I don’t think she should be underestimated. Cody is endearing and adds a touch of comic relief. William is the one you feel a love/hate relationship with, but I have a feeling he’s been through a lot and only takes the “tough love” approach because he feels he has to. A touch of steamy paranormal romance thrown in certainly doesn’t hurt and there’s a few different love triangles to keep things interesting. I will say that there was quite a buildup that doesn’t yet come to fruition, but knowing that there is more to come makes it worth the wait. I’ll be grabbing the next book in the series, Night Falls, immediately.

[Biggs_bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

End of the world is coming

I jumped into this book blind. I do this a lot so other then knowing it was a paranormal book I had no expectations. I truly enjoyed this book! From the first chapter I was engrossed in wanting to know omg what happens next. The details are vivid and the story is intriguing. An end of the world adventure (this San andres movie) meets a unique paranormal world. There’s humor, violence and major destruction and a lot of omg what’s going to happen next to keep you turning pages instead of doing anything else. It ends in a cliffhanger but it’s a really good story! Can’t wait to see what happens!!!

[Nico P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it December yet? Seriously.... I am beyond ready for book 2 and I literally just finished book 1! If you are second guessing yourself on reading this, DON'T. Just do it. This book had me on the edge of my seat biting my nails wondering what was happening next. If you like vampires, shifters and other paranormal themes read it! J. N. Baker did an amazing job with every little detail in this book, I cannot wait until book 2 is released!

Edit; Oct 15th; it was such a good book I decided to order a physical copy! So excited for book 2 to come out so I can order that one as well! Already got my preorder in! ♡

[April Mollenkopf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be warned about two things - This is an end of the world apocalypse book with a cliff hanger and close to the beginning there is a rape scene. If those don’t bother you, then grab this book! There was nonstop action from the very beginning to the very end, with humor, suspense and romance sprinkled throughout . The story was well thought out and the characters had depth. It had vamps, shifters and the Chosen. I didn’t want to put this book down. I’m definitely going for book 2.

[Kathern Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a Very good book.... I didn't think it would be my type of a read in the beginning but after a chapter or two it turned out to be very interesting. Action packed through out the book. Zoe shows that you stand with your family no matter what. You do what you have to do. Kick butt and take names. Show no fear.
I very highly recommend this book. It turned out to be an awesome one..... Now on to book number two.....

[Karel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action packed

There's a lot going on at the end of the world! Lots of action, characters to love and a few to hate. Took me a bit to warm up to Zoe but she showed her love for her chosen family vying to keep them safe while keeping up with her chosen brethren. A well written, fast paced story that kept my attention. I'll definitely be reading the next in this series!

[Linda7600 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly Written

This is my first time reading a book by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style and imagination A terrific story that so action packed! Vampires are fighting against God’s Chosen along with shifts all while the world is being destroyed. I highly recommend this book.

[Jenna Hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOWWWWW!!!

At the very first I thought Tyne book was a little confusing, but that quickly changed. I was sucked in like never before and couldn't pt it down. It had just enough of everything (romance, action, drama, ect) to make it perfect and to keep you enthralled! Can't wait to read the next one!

[Jesstacular · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

Where do I even begin?!
This book was Iike The Day After Tomorrow mashed up with the paranormal world! J.N. Baker’s ability to make me feel what the main character, Zoe, was feeling, is brilliant! I loved Zoe’s passion for her friends, no family, and the need to keep them safe. So excited to read book 2!

[Sevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it!

Suspenseful book! Best part is all the emotions in the book followed by a loud chuckle moment! The characters are great and relatable. Can't wait to read what happens next!

[Celeste Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

As far as apocalyptic books go, this is a good one. Take a bunch of supernatural, add a sprinkling of humans and you got it. Action packed until the end, I'm excited to see where this series will go.

[J Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good start to the series!

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I was intrigued by the author's ideas. A bit of a slow start, but then the action starts with a bang! I'll definitely be reading the rest of this series. Highly recommend!!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap!!!!

I could not put it down. I love the characters (I constantly want to punch William) and what is up with Josh AND Alec!!! Yes please!!!! Going to start the second book now.

[Julia Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, not my cup of tea. Lots of great potential, but it fell flat for me.

[T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last Light, the first book of the Until Dawn series, is an ebook I borrowed through Kindle Unlimited (KU). I really liked the world-building for this series. While numerous stories feature "The Chosen" hero for their theme, Baker added a little twist. Kill a Chosen, then be the first group to identify the replacement so the new Chosen could be molded to the group's agenda. This twist on a usually predictable trope, made the story more unpredictable. Nice pacing and puzzling surprises will keep readers on their toes.

[Lindsay Billsborrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here comes the apocalypse

This book grabbed me right from the first page, I stayed up all night reading it and thoroughly enjoyed it. There are an interesting bunch of characters introduced in this story with solid backgrounds. I’ve already downloaded the second book in this series.

[Tara McKee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read with amazing character and scene development. This world is filled with immortals, vampires, shifters and more. I was able to immerse myself into Zoe’s world and was kept captive by the plot. Baker’s skill to bring you into a scene is marvelous! I am pleasantly pleased to have discovered this new artist. She is a must read! On to book two…

[Amber Wildermuth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new take on the end of the world

This book was amazing start to finish. I loved how Ms. Baker kept dropping new bits of the story like breadcrumbs, all rushing together for an epic finish. I’m looking forward to book 2 as Zoe continues to learn and try to balance her two roles.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a post-apocalyptic series. We meet Zoe and her friends as they try to survive the impending disaster and we are left to wonder what the world will be like for those who survive. Great characters and world building. Recommended.

[2TNWalkers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow to start, book is set up for fleshing out all the main characters and their relationships. Well written does end with cliff hanger. Also note towards being of book there is a rape scene, so if you are sensitive to this just be aware it’s there.

[Jacquie Stolz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start of series

Good vs. Evil watching the world as we know it end. Paranormal apocalyptic story. Interested to see where the author takes us.

[Pepper Garnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic first book in A series! You will not want to put it down! Totally love the characters!!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some promising elements but perhaps just a few too many plot gaps and conflicting elements for my taste.

[Beatrix Hagena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect any of this! It is dark and full of suspense. If you are sensitive to triggers, this might be to dark for you. I must admit, it took me a few chapters to get over my shock of how quickly you get confronted with tragedy and information. But on the other hand, that was a pleasant surprise. It didn’t take long at all to build up the story and many exciting action scenes make this book breathtaking. I would definitely recommend it any day!