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allisonb64133's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a sucker for YA fantasy. Enjoyed this and will be requesting book two!
caitsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Overall: 4.75/5 Stars
Characters: 4.5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 4.5/5
Awesomeness Factor: 5/5
Review In A Nutshell: Beautiful and amazing, The Last Namsara was almost impossible to put down.
“Once there was a girl who was drawn to wicked things.
Things like forbidden, ancient stories.”
Kristen Ciccarelli weaves a beautiful tale in this epic fantasy novel. Also, there are dragons. The Last Namsara follows Asha, the kingdom's Iskari, a name taken from the goddess of death. She is the most feared dragon hunter, determined to make up for a deadly mistake she made as a child. When she's given the chance to escape her engagement to the cruel commandant, in exchange for the head of the most powerful dragon, Asha doesn't hesitate.
The world she creates is realistic and gritty while keeping a mystical edge to it that had me wanting to learn more. And did I mention the dragons? I absolutely loved the dragons in this book. At some points, they reminded me of loyal dogs, while other times they were impressive enemies or intimidating allies. The relationship between the dragons and the main character, Asha, was very interesting to explore, as well as this history of the dragons and her people. Speaking of other things I was eager to learn about while reading; the mythology. The origins of the Namsara and the Iskari was very interesting to read about, and I especially loved how it reversed the stereotype of the female goddess being the happy, joyful, and loveable character, while the guy is brooding, sad, and lonely.
That isn’t the only thing this book has a different take on. The Last Namsara frequently combines both old tropes (an arranged marriage to the Worst Person Ever™, forbidden romance, a romance between a slave and a royal, etc) with new ideas, making it completely its own.
The characters, while some do lack a fully developed personality, are easy to relate to and feel for. I loved watching Asha develop, and watching the relationship between her and Tsumin grow. The side characters were equally interesting (which makes me so excited because we'll be getting a companion novel).
The plot maintains a good pace with a healthy balance between the action and the fascinating lore. The writing style was beautiful and elegant throughout the novel, making the interesting storyline have that much more of an impact.
Pros- Beautiful writing style, adorable romance, DRAGONS
Cons- While the pace is good, and the world is well-built, it did take me a few chapters to really get into it. It’s best to read when you’re already in a high fantasy mood.
Overall- 4.75/5 stars.
The Last Namsara is a great read for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Games of Thrones-ish worlds. Its full of magic, lore, and freaking DRAGONS! Did I mention the dragons enough?
Characters: 4.5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 4.5/5
Awesomeness Factor: 5/5
Review In A Nutshell: Beautiful and amazing, The Last Namsara was almost impossible to put down.
“Once there was a girl who was drawn to wicked things.
Things like forbidden, ancient stories.”
Kristen Ciccarelli weaves a beautiful tale in this epic fantasy novel. Also, there are dragons. The Last Namsara follows Asha, the kingdom's Iskari, a name taken from the goddess of death. She is the most feared dragon hunter, determined to make up for a deadly mistake she made as a child. When she's given the chance to escape her engagement to the cruel commandant, in exchange for the head of the most powerful dragon, Asha doesn't hesitate.
The world she creates is realistic and gritty while keeping a mystical edge to it that had me wanting to learn more. And did I mention the dragons? I absolutely loved the dragons in this book. At some points, they reminded me of loyal dogs, while other times they were impressive enemies or intimidating allies. The relationship between the dragons and the main character, Asha, was very interesting to explore, as well as this history of the dragons and her people. Speaking of other things I was eager to learn about while reading; the mythology. The origins of the Namsara and the Iskari was very interesting to read about, and I especially loved how it reversed the stereotype of the female goddess being the happy, joyful, and loveable character, while the guy is brooding, sad, and lonely.
That isn’t the only thing this book has a different take on. The Last Namsara frequently combines both old tropes (an arranged marriage to the Worst Person Ever™, forbidden romance, a romance between a slave and a royal, etc) with new ideas, making it completely its own.
The characters, while some do lack a fully developed personality, are easy to relate to and feel for. I loved watching Asha develop, and watching the relationship between her and Tsumin grow. The side characters were equally interesting (which makes me so excited because we'll be getting a companion novel).
The plot maintains a good pace with a healthy balance between the action and the fascinating lore. The writing style was beautiful and elegant throughout the novel, making the interesting storyline have that much more of an impact.
Pros- Beautiful writing style, adorable romance, DRAGONS
Cons- While the pace is good, and the world is well-built, it did take me a few chapters to really get into it. It’s best to read when you’re already in a high fantasy mood.
Overall- 4.75/5 stars.
The Last Namsara is a great read for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Games of Thrones-ish worlds. Its full of magic, lore, and freaking DRAGONS! Did I mention the dragons enough?
jenn_burros's review against another edition
5.0
This book was really good. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading it. The plot was unique and had a lot of original aspects. There were some twists that I hadn't seen coming. The characters were all interesting and Asha experienced some great growth. I loved the writing style. It was poetic without being in your face. And also the dragons!
abbyelizabeth's review against another edition
4.0
Effortless world building and a strong female. and dragons. definitely a good read!
alilbitmads's review against another edition
3.0
Yo slow burn romance what up. But also the magic/dragon/world building was just plain weird. Idk if I'll read on in the series but that was definitely what lost me with this one.
mjoz520's review against another edition
5.0
I want more!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love loveee this story so much! Now I'm waiting for book 2. <3
I love loveee this story so much! Now I'm waiting for book 2. <3
thelibrarylady1970's review against another edition
5.0
I bought this audiobook because Pearl Mackie is the narrator. She did an amazing job and I hope she narrates more books in the future. Then, to have an amazing storyline too -- just so good! At times I wished I could ask Pearl to read faster so I could find out what happened next! I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
terrorbot's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely fantastic. Ciccarelli is an incredible storyteller, and I can’t wait for the next installment of this series!!!
A good book for anyone who needs a reminder that “you are not what you’ve been told you are, you are what lies within you.”
A good book for anyone who needs a reminder that “you are not what you’ve been told you are, you are what lies within you.”
elle_laine's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
•Legends run deep in Firgaard, many of which include Asha, the feared Iskari. Destined to marry a man she could never love, Asha sets out on a task to kill the First Dragon and win her freedom. Or so she thinks.
“When she didn’t respond, he did something even worse. He raised his eyes to hers. A startling heat surged through her as their gazes met.” pg. 21
•This was an unexpectedly AMAZING book! I went into it with no expectations and came out of it in love. The story is captivating and the lore really added to the suspense of what was happening. I also really liked that the ending wrapped up the book nicely while also leaving room for a sequel. I will definitely get around to reading the next book, but I don’t feel the need to jump to it right now.
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ellyy_insta's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5