Part sci fi, part psycho thriller, and set in a reality TV show scenario Olivia's debut novel does her credit. Told in three alternating POVs - the author, Zoo the main protractor, and feedback texts/blog posts. Twelve contestants are taking part in a major reality TV show that tests their survival skills. They are cut off from the world for the duration of the show. They face two types of challenges - one involving teamwork and the other undertaken individually. Presumably, the last one to survive the individual challenge is the winner. Unfortunately, in the meantime, catastrophe strikes the world. Since the contestants have no contact with the rest of the world, they are unaware of this reality. Strangely, it appears that filming continues or does it. The novel focuses mainly on the contestant Zoo. Olivia masterfully manipulates her characters and her setting as she narrates a tale of the human psyche under duress and the lengths they may go to win. As Olivia explores human identity and relationships, one cannot help but admire the tough, resilient, and practical Zoo. She shamelessly exploits the blurred lines between reality and the TV show forcing one to face up to certain brutal facts like the media's sneaky role in our lives, how easily we are manipulated by the media, how it affects our judgement, our values, governs our decisions even ones perception of reality. A very novel combination of ideas, uneerily real, one gets a peek into Olivia's outlandish mind. She does a great job of keeping the suspense until the very end. She also cleverly captures the behind the scenes saga that goes into the making of a TV show. Though a gripping, sci fi psycho thriller and a nail biting read she has sadly, written the novel in a TV script style making reading burdensome. Nevertheless, it is a noteworthy read & one recommends this book. Besides, it also has an HEA. Sophisticated, yet bizarre, a writer to keep ones eye on, expectantly waiting for her next offering.

Great idea for a book. Kind of reminded me of Dead Set and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here mashed together! (You’ll only understand that if you’re British… I think). I like how it was written as though you were watching it, so you could easily picture what the shots would look like if you were really watching it on your TV screen.

The plot, overall, was amazing. I’m not really into Dystopian novels but this really gripped me from page one! There were some real edge of the seat moments mixed in with great character development, a couple of laughs and even some tear jerking emotional moments!

The Last One by Alexandra Oliva is basically Bear Ghrylls meets The Hunger Games in this apocalyptic psychological thriller told through flashback and current events... Astounding !


A reality TV survival show ppits contestants against each other in a series of physical challenges. Then the contestants are split up and are finally on their own until ultimately a 'winner' is announced.
With a series of flashbacks alternating between the pre- competition backstories of each contestant and their struggle during the competition slipped in, the main story is told from the point of view of Zoo as she struggles on in 'game' mentality, isolated from the external events that have corrupted the whole process. This is a harrowing investigation of what might happen in these extreme conditions..
The contrast, witnessed only by the reader, between the contest and the reality give the story an edgy authenticity. The writing is thrillingly convincing and each clue was placed with chilling precision prompting the reader to pause and question the psychology of Zoo's decisions.
Not my usual sort of read but one I'm really glad I picked up- definitely recommended.

A TV reality programme featuring 12 contestants who must use their survival skills knowing that cameras are on them, all the time. But then something terrible, unimaginable does happen and they really are fighting for survival. A really great idea, but it didn't work for me which is such a shame as I love books in this category. It was confusing to be faced with all the nicknames and Zoo took a long time to catch on. Would loved to have rated this book higher than this - other readers certainly will.

Wow! This story will have you hooked from the first page. I have never read anything like it, it's a brilliant, very different story to anything else. Zoo and eleven others are taking part in a reality survival story on American television. She wants a last adventure before starting a family with her husband. What she and the other contestants don't realise is that a virus is wiping out civilization and the reality show becomes a real case of survival. A gripping story.

I didn't get very far with this - I felt it was slow to start and when I checked reviews to see if it was worth persisting, I discovered it was unlikely to appeal to me so I gave up.

Just wasn't for me this one. Endless description of survival techniques when all I wanted to get back to was how Zoo was surviving in the present. Gave up about half way through as it just didn't grab me at all.