Quick fantasy read full of unexpected plot twists and interesting characters. The world building was grand and something I would have expected in a larger work, but I did appreciate it and the work the author went to ensure readers could be transported to another fully fleshed out place. Once I picked this one up, I had a hard time putting it down.

Thank you NetGalley, author, and publisher for the dARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

Thrilling Epic Fantasy Adventure...

This story takes readers on a thrilling ride full of unexpected twists and turns. The characters of Gabriel and Talia are complex and relatable, and the world-building is rich and immersive. The novel's pacing is perfect, keeping readers engaged from beginning to end. This book is a must-read for fans of epic fantasy and anyone looking for a thrilling adventure.

A thrilling adventure full of unexpected twists and turns...

An epic fantasy novel that follows the story of Gabriel Shook, a desperate dungeon master, and Talia, a woman living in paradise. When the mighty Aatma falls and Empress Inalda loses her main supplier, Gabriel is forced to buy second-hand minions from a consignment store to defend his new dungeon. Meanwhile, Talia's way of life is threatened by a betrayal that sets a collision of destinies into motion. As Talia's god rises and the otai flows, both characters must navigate the machinations of the Empress and the guilds. This epic fantasy ride is full of twists and turns that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

the last dai’akan by jeremy d miller
☆☆☆/5
A quick read with an interesting premise. I honestly envisioned an “avatar-meets-d&d” world. Not that the story had anything to do with Avatar or D&D, other than the fact that one of the MC’s is an evil dungeon master… but that’s the world I imagined this story took place in. Honestly I felt like the world was too big for such a short story. There was no map and no glossary so learning everything just kind of felt like work? It wasn’t Tolkien-esque large, but I like something to go off of in a fantasy/sci fi world, and this didn’t have it. That being said- I was interested enough that I WANTED a map/glossary! Also, this is book 1 of the Otai Cycle, so knowing that there is more to the story/world to be discovered, gives me hope.
You can tell that Jeremy D Miller is a physician, lol. There are some very scientific references in the story and is impressively in depth about these things. It was interesting to see this perspective in a fantasy setting. Much different than something I’m used to.
The characters were interesting at the time, but I honestly forget them… I do remember that they were very believable, and this has to do with Miller’s background. He genuinely knew how to accurately portray certain characters and terms. Everyone was believable.
I was interested in the entire book, and it kept me wanting to read more. The dungeon master villain kept me interested mostly, lol. I wanted to see where his character would go.
The pacing was good and I never felt lost while reading. I understood the storyline and what was happening and why.
Overall, enjoyable but i don’t think i’d recommend to many people. Mainly because it’s not the type of story people think of when picking up a fantasy book. It’s definitely a sci-fi/fantasy book.