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The Last Eternal #1
The Wandering Sword
The hardest war is the one a man fights alone.
One hundred years ago, the Eternals, thirteen men and women of immense power, closer, many believed, to gods than mortals, stood against the greatest threat the world had ever faced.
And they lost.
They died.
All save for one, known as the Youngest, who managed to flee with the enemy leader’s weapon, a cursed blade of incredible power.
He has traveled for a hundred years since, alone save for his companion, Veikr, the only remaining horse of a legendary breed.
The last just as he is the last.
Hunted by creatures out of nightmare, he seeks only to survive, to keep the magical blade from the enemy’s grasp.
Not to save the world, for the time for saving it is past. Instead, he seeks only to delay its ending.
It is a battle he fights alone, for after they defeated the Eternals, the enemy used their magic to pose as their conquered opponents, taking over rule of the world in their stead.
For the last hundred years, the people have believed that the legendary Eternals triumphed, that they are safe. Only the wanderer knows the truth, that the world crouches with its head resting on the executioner’s block, waiting for the axe to fall.
And the only thing keeping that axe at bay is him.
He had a name once, but he has it no longer.
He is simply the Last. The Youngest.
He is the Wandering Sword.
One hundred years ago, the Eternals, thirteen men and women of immense power, closer, many believed, to gods than mortals, stood against the greatest threat the world had ever faced.
And they lost.
They died.
All save for one, known as the Youngest, who managed to flee with the enemy leader’s weapon, a cursed blade of incredible power.
He has traveled for a hundred years since, alone save for his companion, Veikr, the only remaining horse of a legendary breed.
The last just as he is the last.
Hunted by creatures out of nightmare, he seeks only to survive, to keep the magical blade from the enemy’s grasp.
Not to save the world, for the time for saving it is past. Instead, he seeks only to delay its ending.
It is a battle he fights alone, for after they defeated the Eternals, the enemy used their magic to pose as their conquered opponents, taking over rule of the world in their stead.
For the last hundred years, the people have believed that the legendary Eternals triumphed, that they are safe. Only the wanderer knows the truth, that the world crouches with its head resting on the executioner’s block, waiting for the axe to fall.
And the only thing keeping that axe at bay is him.
He had a name once, but he has it no longer.
He is simply the Last. The Youngest.
He is the Wandering Sword.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 4, 2022
1799 people are currently reading
2457 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
May 25, 2022
Just flippen good!!!!
Ok that was great! The writer moves the story a long nicely without a lot of extra words. You really get a feel for this Wander ( Youngest ) as he tells his story the best he can. In a hundred years of being alone an protecting a sword, he starts to care for a family. So he an his big ass horse change their lives.
Damn flippen great read. Been waiting for this one Jacob Peppers!!
Ok that was great! The writer moves the story a long nicely without a lot of extra words. You really get a feel for this Wander ( Youngest ) as he tells his story the best he can. In a hundred years of being alone an protecting a sword, he starts to care for a family. So he an his big ass horse change their lives.
Damn flippen great read. Been waiting for this one Jacob Peppers!!
October 24, 2023
I love the protagonist in this story, he has been alone in the world for so long that he has forgotten how to feel and is doomed to wander the world alone protecting a cursed sword. He has a very tragic backstory. I found it sad that one man should be carrying the whole worlds burdens on his shoulders.
The way the author conveys the sense of loneliness and the burden he carries comes through very well. I feel like wherever he goes when he comes into contact with others they are certain to disappoint him apart from the first family that he met, which reignited his feelings.
Throughout the story I was amused by the frequent use of the word ‘winced’. A lot of people seem to be wincing at things and comments, why I don’t know. I'm sure there could have been another word there instead of winced but yeah, a lot of wincing going on, 38 times to be exact..
A nice ending leaving possibilities open for the next book. Not a bad start for the first of three..
The way the author conveys the sense of loneliness and the burden he carries comes through very well. I feel like wherever he goes when he comes into contact with others they are certain to disappoint him apart from the first family that he met, which reignited his feelings.
Throughout the story I was amused by the frequent use of the word ‘winced’. A lot of people seem to be wincing at things and comments, why I don’t know. I'm sure there could have been another word there instead of winced but yeah, a lot of wincing going on, 38 times to be exact..
A nice ending leaving possibilities open for the next book. Not a bad start for the first of three..
March 7, 2022
A fascinating grimdark fantasy! 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review to come soon!
Review to come soon!
July 24, 2023
He rides alone. Forever pursued. His accursed sword a beacon to the abominations that follow. For the oppressed his arrival will provide a strength & hope. It will also bring unimaginable terror.
Great tale of a lost war of Eternals. Protectors of the world. One left to kill who has taken a great evil sword and is on the run.
Love the twist that the wanderer talks to the deceased souls of his kind through a pendant.
If he interacts with humans he basically condemns them to die. It’s all about prolonging the end of days.
Excellent start to series. An homage to the old westerns. Badass drifter on a badass horse. I’m hooked!
Great tale of a lost war of Eternals. Protectors of the world. One left to kill who has taken a great evil sword and is on the run.
Love the twist that the wanderer talks to the deceased souls of his kind through a pendant.
If he interacts with humans he basically condemns them to die. It’s all about prolonging the end of days.
Excellent start to series. An homage to the old westerns. Badass drifter on a badass horse. I’m hooked!
October 11, 2025
What came to mind immediately as I was reading this is it resembles one of the Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns, except with a wandering swordsman rather than gunman.
July 21, 2023
Rather slow and boring....
I found the pace pretty slow, the internal monologue unnecessarily protracted and repetitive. A lot of words that could be better used in character and world building. I won't be bothering with the follow ups in the series.
I found the pace pretty slow, the internal monologue unnecessarily protracted and repetitive. A lot of words that could be better used in character and world building. I won't be bothering with the follow ups in the series.
July 20, 2023
4.25 stars
Classic fantasy at its finest. And that ending... well, let's just say as soon as I finished the book, I ordered the next two in the series.
Classic fantasy at its finest. And that ending... well, let's just say as soon as I finished the book, I ordered the next two in the series.
April 3, 2024
It started out seeming like it was going to be some fun. Unfortunately the protagonist is mostly just a depressed whiner. Not that he doesn’t have anything at all to complain about but the extremely highly level of his complaining just doesn’t feel earned. Many of his problems that he complains about are self-inflicted and there isn’t enough justification for why that level of self-sacrifice is needed vs. him just having a martyr complex. There are of course plot holes aplenty, which I’d be willing to overlook if this book was just here to have fun but it seems it wants to be taken seriously. Perhaps most disappointingly the stakes and urgency for the climax are constantly changing which just undermines any tension it might have had.
July 9, 2023
4.5* (english version below)
Eigentlich sind es, nach meinem Bewertungssystem, nicht ganz 5 Sterne. Denn, trotz seiner relativen Kürze, zieht sich das Buch hier und da ein ganz kleines bisschen, weil es auch zum Teil ein wenig repetitiv ist.
Aber, was der Autor für eine wunderbare Figur (Ungr) geschaffen hat, die schönen (wortkargen) Dialoge, die Kameradschaft mit Veikr und das ganze Gefühl, welches das Buch mir vermittelt hat, will ich mal nicht so geizig mit den 5 Sternen sein :D
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Actually, according to my rating system, it's not quite 5 stars. Despite its relative shortness, the book drags a little here and there, as it is a little repetitive in parts.
But what a wonderful character the author created (Ungr), the beautiful (taciturn) dialogues, the companionship with Veikr! Because of the whole feeling the book gave me, I don't want to be so stingy with the 5 stars. :D
Eigentlich sind es, nach meinem Bewertungssystem, nicht ganz 5 Sterne. Denn, trotz seiner relativen Kürze, zieht sich das Buch hier und da ein ganz kleines bisschen, weil es auch zum Teil ein wenig repetitiv ist.
Aber, was der Autor für eine wunderbare Figur (Ungr) geschaffen hat, die schönen (wortkargen) Dialoge, die Kameradschaft mit Veikr und das ganze Gefühl, welches das Buch mir vermittelt hat, will ich mal nicht so geizig mit den 5 Sternen sein :D
-------------------------------------
Actually, according to my rating system, it's not quite 5 stars. Despite its relative shortness, the book drags a little here and there, as it is a little repetitive in parts.
But what a wonderful character the author created (Ungr), the beautiful (taciturn) dialogues, the companionship with Veikr! Because of the whole feeling the book gave me, I don't want to be so stingy with the 5 stars. :D
February 23, 2023
Disappointed could be so much more
If the "Ghosts" are so powerful to remain in spirit then they could select a body to live in and carry on the fight.
Also to disjointed no real beginning no back story to fill the void
Not my cup of tea
If the "Ghosts" are so powerful to remain in spirit then they could select a body to live in and carry on the fight.
Also to disjointed no real beginning no back story to fill the void
Not my cup of tea
January 14, 2023
Great premise. Juvenile plotting.
January 19, 2023
This book just pulled me out of my reading slump. Finally!
Such a simple story but man, so much action and suspense. This is the first book in a long time (again, reading slump) that I found myself unable to wait to get back to reading.
This is a fantasy book that doesn't have chapter after chapter of long drawn out world building (boring). Background is given in short spurts throughout the book - like a paragraph here and there. Personally, world building puts me to sleep, so a book that gets right to the point and right to the action is EXACTLY what I've been looking for in a fantasy book.
The actions scenes are well described, and I felt like my darn eyes couldn't keep up with how fast I wanted them to read!
Awesome scene at the end. I couldn't click to download the second book fast enough. I must continue this story!
Such a simple story but man, so much action and suspense. This is the first book in a long time (again, reading slump) that I found myself unable to wait to get back to reading.
This is a fantasy book that doesn't have chapter after chapter of long drawn out world building (boring). Background is given in short spurts throughout the book - like a paragraph here and there. Personally, world building puts me to sleep, so a book that gets right to the point and right to the action is EXACTLY what I've been looking for in a fantasy book.
The actions scenes are well described, and I felt like my darn eyes couldn't keep up with how fast I wanted them to read!
Awesome scene at the end. I couldn't click to download the second book fast enough. I must continue this story!
April 4, 2023
Interesting concept but too repititive
The basic premise is interesting...the heroes losing but no-one knows they lost. However it was so repetitive and the protagonist keep repeating the same arguments in his internal dialogs that I had to skip pages. There are few well written characters which need fleshing out.
The basic premise is interesting...the heroes losing but no-one knows they lost. However it was so repetitive and the protagonist keep repeating the same arguments in his internal dialogs that I had to skip pages. There are few well written characters which need fleshing out.
October 29, 2024
DNF in 3rd chapter. Book is a nothingburger
January 5, 2025
First off, we get three or more instances where the hero is pitted against “crooks” or bad guys and they keep blabbering on and on about how they’re going to enjoy destroying him. The hero wins each time. But it’s a slog to read after we get through it the first time in the first chapter.
Secondly, the hero, “the wanderer” doesn’t talk to the NPC’s much. How many times does he say “something like that” when asked a question? Like 7 times, I think. This is just one example where we have to PULL information out of him and it’s terrible. I hate it. ((The big man didn’t call him a fool or grow angry with misplaced loyalty as the wanderer would have expected him to. Instead, he nodded slowly. “Why?” “Why what?” “Why is he sending these things after you?”)) now imagine 50 more “why what’s?” And you’ll be pulling your hair out too.
Next, we don’t get much in way of scenery or descriptions until we get to chapter 6 when he finally gets to a giant town that basically resembles Minis Tirith.
I did love that we don’t learn the wanderers name at all. I liked his cool horse and the amulet he has around his neck. But the wanderer is a complete douche to so many people: arrogant, aloof, and annoying. Hard to relate to him at all.
I only felt relief when it was over.
Secondly, the hero, “the wanderer” doesn’t talk to the NPC’s much. How many times does he say “something like that” when asked a question? Like 7 times, I think. This is just one example where we have to PULL information out of him and it’s terrible. I hate it. ((The big man didn’t call him a fool or grow angry with misplaced loyalty as the wanderer would have expected him to. Instead, he nodded slowly. “Why?” “Why what?” “Why is he sending these things after you?”)) now imagine 50 more “why what’s?” And you’ll be pulling your hair out too.
Next, we don’t get much in way of scenery or descriptions until we get to chapter 6 when he finally gets to a giant town that basically resembles Minis Tirith.
I did love that we don’t learn the wanderers name at all. I liked his cool horse and the amulet he has around his neck. But the wanderer is a complete douche to so many people: arrogant, aloof, and annoying. Hard to relate to him at all.
I only felt relief when it was over.
August 1, 2023
Much of this book was a slog. The protagonist is suffering from a sort of warn-down despair. He has no hope and is trudging forward out of a fading sense of duty. After all, the world is lost. The bad guys won.
There are the bones of a decent fantasy here but it is almost entirely unleavened by humor, fun, or hope. It's a dark grey tale with an uninvested hero. It's not till nearly the end of the book that The Wanderer invests his will into anything, and that's a long time to wait for a first drink.
Admittedly, I don't much enjoy dystopian settings where systemic corruption and abuse go wholely unchecked. Thus other readers might enjoy the book more than I did.
There are the bones of a decent fantasy here but it is almost entirely unleavened by humor, fun, or hope. It's a dark grey tale with an uninvested hero. It's not till nearly the end of the book that The Wanderer invests his will into anything, and that's a long time to wait for a first drink.
Admittedly, I don't much enjoy dystopian settings where systemic corruption and abuse go wholely unchecked. Thus other readers might enjoy the book more than I did.
March 24, 2024
Interesting premise, but the pace was just too slow for me. Giving the rating here not just for this book, but for those like me who judge the ratings of book 1 in a series as to whether or not to invest in the entire series. Just couldn't bring myself to finish the second book, made it 1/3rd of the way through and nothing had happened except page after page of internal dialog/angst. With another 7 or 8 books left in the series, no way I could manage to slug my way through.
November 21, 2023
Excessively Redundant
Author consistently reminds us that the protagonist is ancient and tired, so much so and far too frequently. After the first hundred repetitions I understood the message, unfortunately for the story (somewhere?) the message was more of a mantra. I found the book and message wearisome.
Author consistently reminds us that the protagonist is ancient and tired, so much so and far too frequently. After the first hundred repetitions I understood the message, unfortunately for the story (somewhere?) the message was more of a mantra. I found the book and message wearisome.
October 16, 2022
2½ stars. I guess I just don't get the praise for this book. Only thing I'll say is that the action scenes are decent and the story keeps an okay pace.
December 14, 2023
lots of words and going nowhere
Writing this after 14% into the second book. It really drags on. Constant doom and gloom and remorse page after page.
Writing this after 14% into the second book. It really drags on. Constant doom and gloom and remorse page after page.
December 7, 2024
I am a new reader of this author’s works. And I’m happy to say that I had a good time with this book. The Wanderer or Ungr meaning “Youngest” is an intriguing character. We don’t know his real name. But he has a big heart and has now found a better purpose for his life than just running away to protect the cursed sword. I also liked the magic here and the ghosts in the locket. You’ll have to read this to find out about the locket. Secondary characters are strong and although this is a relatively short novel, we get acquainted with people very well.
And Veikr, the stalwart ancient steed, last of his kind, with a name that means “Weakest”, well, that just isn’t true, has proven to be a star here.
I will carry on with this series.
And Veikr, the stalwart ancient steed, last of his kind, with a name that means “Weakest”, well, that just isn’t true, has proven to be a star here.
I will carry on with this series.
January 14, 2024
Unexpectedly emotional at times.
A wanderer with no goals, other than to survive, finds his true purpose in life again. I really enjoyed the writing style, it transported the mysterious, grim and at times hopeful nature of the wanderer really well.
The book lives from its characters, especially, but not exclusively, the wanderer. His journey from being a man filled with regrets, dragging himself along and seeing no end to his suffering to someone who fights for a reason again, was thrilling to read. Its the small moments that shine for me, the conversation with the old man, the quiet nights just talking to his horse or his talks with Dekker about what it means to stand for something again.
The world building was alright and the fighting scenes felt a bit lackluster at times, other than that the book was really captivating.
Strong 4 out of 5 stars.
A wanderer with no goals, other than to survive, finds his true purpose in life again. I really enjoyed the writing style, it transported the mysterious, grim and at times hopeful nature of the wanderer really well.
The book lives from its characters, especially, but not exclusively, the wanderer. His journey from being a man filled with regrets, dragging himself along and seeing no end to his suffering to someone who fights for a reason again, was thrilling to read. Its the small moments that shine for me, the conversation with the old man, the quiet nights just talking to his horse or his talks with Dekker about what it means to stand for something again.
The world building was alright and the fighting scenes felt a bit lackluster at times, other than that the book was really captivating.
Strong 4 out of 5 stars.
December 4, 2025
My dad recommended this book, and I’ve been putting it down and picking it up because of my own fault reading other novels that have caught my eye. This by far held my attention the entire time, and for a starter for a long series it was A LOT of building. Overall, I can’t wait to dive into the series.
September 19, 2024
7.5/10
This is a perfectly fine book. A good book even. For whatever flaws this book has it is at the very least sincere. This sincerity adds a lot of charm in what I would imagine be annoying to some. Part of this charm is the dedication to use phrases, cadences, insults, expressions commonly used in the south. Which grew on me immensely as the story continued
It’s not a memorable book but I can tell if I got my hands on this at a younger age I would’ve devoured it. A fine book this is.
This is a perfectly fine book. A good book even. For whatever flaws this book has it is at the very least sincere. This sincerity adds a lot of charm in what I would imagine be annoying to some. Part of this charm is the dedication to use phrases, cadences, insults, expressions commonly used in the south. Which grew on me immensely as the story continued
It’s not a memorable book but I can tell if I got my hands on this at a younger age I would’ve devoured it. A fine book this is.
March 8, 2022
An outstanding fiction read
I'm an old fiction reader who first read r a Jordan and could not lay down the series on the dark elf Drizzly Dourdan. I also enjoyed the series Wheel of time another excellent fiction author. So I like the you presented your lead character and the approach you made to keep your story line close and not let it get away from you. What can I say but good on you. I look to reading more. thank you for an enjoyable read. I read a book on average 2-3 days and since I am an Amazon reader I can keep this pace up for weeks on end. So what you say well I can judge a good fiction writer from an average so I put you with two authors I respect very much
I'm an old fiction reader who first read r a Jordan and could not lay down the series on the dark elf Drizzly Dourdan. I also enjoyed the series Wheel of time another excellent fiction author. So I like the you presented your lead character and the approach you made to keep your story line close and not let it get away from you. What can I say but good on you. I look to reading more. thank you for an enjoyable read. I read a book on average 2-3 days and since I am an Amazon reader I can keep this pace up for weeks on end. So what you say well I can judge a good fiction writer from an average so I put you with two authors I respect very much
June 3, 2023
Adequate
I'm not entirely sure how to feel about this book. The story is well written and has a nice twist to an old tale. The draw back for me is the character design. Most of the characters speak in a similar style, rambling on about nonsense. I feel disconnected from the story each time another monolog starts.
I'm not entirely sure how to feel about this book. The story is well written and has a nice twist to an old tale. The draw back for me is the character design. Most of the characters speak in a similar style, rambling on about nonsense. I feel disconnected from the story each time another monolog starts.
November 26, 2023
The protagonist is a whiny immortal who carries around a stolen cursed sword and is very incompetent at hiding.
For a hundred years was on the run and mostly talked to his horse and the ghosts of his murdered friends.. Now he gets drawn into the world again..
The plot would be not bad (even though i loathe whiny characters!) but the story is written just too naive..
For a hundred years was on the run and mostly talked to his horse and the ghosts of his murdered friends.. Now he gets drawn into the world again..
The plot would be not bad (even though i loathe whiny characters!) but the story is written just too naive..
November 13, 2023
Very boring
Yep it doesn't happen too often but I stopped reading before half way and couldn't finish any more. Its very dry and just goes on and on, like a horrible run on sentence.
Yep it doesn't happen too often but I stopped reading before half way and couldn't finish any more. Its very dry and just goes on and on, like a horrible run on sentence.
August 14, 2023
This book is relatively short, both in length and in scope when compared to the lore and the potential end-goal. But that short spell is packed with some of the best fantasy literature I've had the pleasure of experiencing this year.
The Good:
I literally could not put this down. I was totally hooked by the story, and desperately wanting to know more about the world, what happened, how we got to where we are. And the author managed to distill the background in doses, just enough that I wouldn't riot but not enough to info-dump. That's skill right there!
While I wouldn't call this book grimdark, it is definitely not typical. Neither in its premise ("the good guys lost") nor in the main theme of this volume, the famous apocrypha:
This book is about the MC slowly digesting this idea. And it's really well done.
The Less Good:
I struggled a bit with the notion of time in this book. When the story starts, the MC's been on the run for a hundred years, but bare a few exceptions, on this the author seems to favour telling over showing.
The narrator was... efficient, but the delivery felt a bit robotic for me at times.
The Bad:
Nothing fits this slot
The Conclusion:
Easy 5 stars. Not a moment of hesitation.
The Good:
I literally could not put this down. I was totally hooked by the story, and desperately wanting to know more about the world, what happened, how we got to where we are. And the author managed to distill the background in doses, just enough that I wouldn't riot but not enough to info-dump. That's skill right there!
While I wouldn't call this book grimdark, it is definitely not typical. Neither in its premise ("the good guys lost") nor in the main theme of this volume, the famous apocrypha:
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in the world is that good men do nothing
This book is about the MC slowly digesting this idea. And it's really well done.
The Less Good:
I struggled a bit with the notion of time in this book. When the story starts, the MC's been on the run for a hundred years, but bare a few exceptions, on this the author seems to favour telling over showing.
The narrator was... efficient, but the delivery felt a bit robotic for me at times.
The Bad:
Nothing fits this slot
The Conclusion:
Easy 5 stars. Not a moment of hesitation.
January 25, 2023
The premise- a lone hero with unmatchable skill on the run protecting an item that might destroy the world- is so very tired and this title does little-to-nothing to liven it. The most interesting aspect are these Mulan style ghosts that can speak to the hero but it's not one that's explored enough.
I struggled through the prose, the main characters questionable/undercooked motivations, lack of character depth/interest, moustache twirling/ bert-tom-willaim villan dialogue, and nonsense like this dude being on the run from incredibly powerful beings while riding around on a giant white horse that is the only one of its kind. If you've played any 16-bit rpg you'll recognize every character, every plot point, each bit of dialogue as something you've seen before and didn't bother to remember. If the book wasn't so short I wouldn't have pushed so hard to finish it and I don't plan on continuing the series.
So as not to be a total jerk, I thought the fight scenes were well written. The last chapter or two held 10x more interest than the rest of the book and did speak to potential in the series. And I think it's cool this guy self published this (though I do think an editor would have helped immensely).
I struggled through the prose, the main characters questionable/undercooked motivations, lack of character depth/interest, moustache twirling/ bert-tom-willaim villan dialogue, and nonsense like this dude being on the run from incredibly powerful beings while riding around on a giant white horse that is the only one of its kind. If you've played any 16-bit rpg you'll recognize every character, every plot point, each bit of dialogue as something you've seen before and didn't bother to remember. If the book wasn't so short I wouldn't have pushed so hard to finish it and I don't plan on continuing the series.
So as not to be a total jerk, I thought the fight scenes were well written. The last chapter or two held 10x more interest than the rest of the book and did speak to potential in the series. And I think it's cool this guy self published this (though I do think an editor would have helped immensely).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews