Customer Reviews

The Last Warrior (Hqn)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It has the classic Grant elements of
1) action
2) romance with characters you just know need to be together
3) some really great creative story telling, and
4) burn the midnight oil keep the pages turning drawability that entices the reader into tossing aside all normal chores and concerns and simply devouring another delicious Grant novel.

The expansive story takes place on a colonized planet in the far future. There were complications when a group of blood thirsty werewolf like aliens the "Gorr" landed their colony `arks' and fought the original human colonists until they pretty much slaughtered each other in war, and pushed both races backwards technologically speaking into approximately a medieval times level.

Synopsis: The yummy ultra honorable superman like General Tao returns from defeating the Gorr. He is betrayed by his paranoid King, and forced to hide among the despised and feared scholastically prone `Kurel' with the beautiful Elsabeth who has personally sworn to take down the king for revenge. Romance, adventure, the race to save the human race and their families make an absorbing read.

The Kurel were set apart in a ghetto and treated with fear and loathing, yet their skills were highly coveted by the Tassagonian who imprisoned them. Remind you of anyone? I felt the author was drawing parallels about how our culture and countries treat each other in modern times. This was a charming romance story, but it also strove to reach a deeper meaning and convey how fear, distrust, misunderstandings and personal hatred can destroy.

I've read every Susan Grant book, even hunting down the one she wrote for Silhouette. "Sure Blood" and "The Star King series" stand out as her premier works, but "The Last Warrior" is awesome and this sweet page turner should not be missed.

General Tao is a champion of his people, returning home from defeating the Gorr, a beastlike species of fighters. But while his people welcome him with open arms, his brother-in-law, King Xim, does not. The king thinks Tao wants to usurp the crown and in his paranoia, throws Tao in the dungeon to face treason charges. Tao's good friend Markam is a palace guard and part of a rebel movement that sees Xim as unfit for the throne. He helps devise an escape for Tao and sets him up to hide in the neighboring ghettos of the Kurel people.

Elsabeth is a Kurel who is also dedicated to taking down Xim. But her reasons are personal; he was behind the raid that killed her parents. Now, she's hiding Tao because she believes he is humanity's best hope to be the new king.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a romance, but so much more. The world building was fascinating. The author has set up a futuristic otherworld where the human factions are as clearly defined as the mongrel Gorr. It's captivating to watch Tao and Elsabeth overcome their misconceptions about each other and fall in love. But the action and the intrigue was every bit as interesting. There were also great secondary characters, like Markam and Queen Aza.

There is a little bit of sex, but the book is more about the emotional connection of the characters, and even though I generally like smut, I didn't feel cheated.
I really enjoyed this one, in part because it was unique and refreshing, but also because it was just plain good. 4 1/2 stars.

Susan Grant's last few books have been a mix of hit and miss for me. It was almost like she was trying write like someone else. The Last Warrior[Image] is Susan back on track and writing with her own voice.

The Last Warrior is set in an entirely new world. Humans and the Gorr arrived to colonize the same planet. The Gorr tried to exterminate the humans and all contract with Earth (Uhrth in The Last Warrior) was cut off. Humans divided into three groups who do not get along but with the Gorr a common enemy. General Tao has just come home after a great victory against the Gorr. He does not find the welcome he expects. He is forced to find refuge from his own people and is thrown together with Elsabeth. Together they must work to heal the wounds among the humans or see all humans on the planet wiped out by the Gorr.

The Last Warrior is a fast paced, action filled adventure where the romance does not overpower but is part of the story. The characters are well drawn and several of the secondary characters could be the main characters in future books. Susan has crafted a world filled with possibilities and I look forward to see future book in this setting.

Very well written story- the characters are very likeable. The hero is admirable- alpha without being a neanderthal. The heroine is strong and caring. Each actually tries to learn from the other about the misconceptions they each carry about the other's culture.
The world built in this story is fascinating. I could actually imagine how the different cultures would have formed over time after the planet was colonized from space exploration from earth.
I am really glad I gave this story a chance as the author is new to me. I'm really looking forward to trying out anything she writes in the future!

STORY BRIEF:
Generations ago humans traveled to another planet. The aircraft was destroyed. They initialy split into three groups. The Tassagon rule the city and have strong warriors. The Kurel read books, value science, and use medicine including antibiotics and IV lines. The Tassagon believe the Kurel are sorcerers using magic. They fear the magic, and they force the Kurel to live in a ghetto area. Riders live on the surrounding planes. They ride horses and hunt. A fourth group is the Gorr who appear to be half wolf, half human. They attack and kill humans whenever they can. A fifth group is part Gorr, part human. They ride the seas as pirates.

Tao is the leader of the Tassagon army. He and his army have been away fighting Gorr for years. They use bows, arrows, spears, and ride horses. The story begins when they return to the city. The people love Tao and cheer him. The current king (Xim) fears Tao could take over as king. Xim arrests Tao and plans to execute him.

Elsabeth is Kurel. Three years ago Xim's soldiers killed her parents and other Kurel. She has vowed revenge and wants to kill Xim. She helps Tao escape.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
I feel like the author was told to write this rather than being inspired to write this. The characters are bland. The dialogue is ordinary. The events are predictable. Nothing is done in a special way. I plodded through it so I could evaluate it. I didn't enjoy it. The first sex scene was long and boring. The ending for the bad guys felt convenient and contrived - almost like lets kill off the bad guys in a way that does not have the good guys being at fault.

This is labeled paranormal romance. That's ok. Just know that there is nothing paranormal going on with the main characters or main story. The paranormal element is the existence of the Gorr creatures. If you look into their eyes, you become hypnotized making it easier for them to kill you.

DATA:
Story length: 370 pages. Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 3. Total number of sex scene pages: 11. Setting: a future time on a colonized planet. Copyright: 2011. Genre: paranormal sci-fi romance.

OTHER BOOKS:
I read one other book by Susan Grant. I gave 3 stars to "How to Lose an Extraterrestrial in 10 Days" copyright 2007.