Review: Last Stand
Last Stand by Rachel E Carter
No need to do my point system since I’ve done it with the 3 books (4, if you count the prequel); here are my thoughts on the last installment of the series.
After the shocking end on the third book Candidate, I was both anxious and excited for the final book. If you had read the first books on the series, you can say based from the title that something terrible is about to happen. And given how there were a lot of unexpected twists, a lot of scenarios crossed my mind, which made me browse through her IG profile hoping to see some spoilers to ease my fan heart. I swear when I heard the email notification, I was excited to start reading it, sad that it's the last book, and nervous of what's in store for me (us readers and fans).
It started with a tragedy after a tragedy, and Ryiah torn between her devotion to her family and her love for Darren. The action-packed adventures are still there, but it’s more intense now since she’s like walking on a wire. But it wasn’t just all that. Despite the inevitable war, Darren and Ryiah also faced common relationship problems – LDR to be exact. This proves that the story isn’t just fantasy, but there’s romance as well. The last book showed Darren’s vulnerable side, and his side that is willing to accept whatever Ryiah wishes, though he himself has wants and needs.
The scene where they became intimate for the first time is both beautiful and bittersweet.
The final battle, which was the most anticipated battle, was heartbreaking. What Ryiah was thinking and what Darren was saying made me cry through the entire scene, and it was the perfect conclusion to this phenomenal magical adventure.
If there is one word that best describe the book, or even the entire series, it is EPIC.
And it’s not just because of the plot, or the characters, or the pace of the story – it is because of how it was written. Every emotions and thoughts of each character are well detailed and described that you can actually feel what they are going through. It made me feel like as if I’m there, like I’m the one who is married to the prince but is a traitor to the crown - all the nervous and excitement, the drive and the surrender.
I didn’t want this story to end, but I am glad that they had the happy ever after that they deserve.
I’d like to thank the author for giving me the chance to read the entire Black Mage series. It’s now one of my top favorite YA books, and I can’t wait to start collecting the paperbacks as well.
