The Last Hero

I adored this challenging but ultimately uplifting conclusion. The books really shine as a complete trilogy - each instalment grows upon the others. I particularly enjoyed watching the world widen in The Last Hero - where on first reading of The Second Rebel, I found the new POVs jarring, here seeing all the different perspectives really enriched the narrative. I was also impressed by the really solid world-building. Although this story arc is over, I can definitely see the space for more stories from this universe, and this is a trilogy I'll revisit regardless.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for the invitation to read the NetGalley arc of The Last Hero by Linden A Lewis, the final book in The First Sister trilogy.

The Last Hero picks up the story shortly after The conclusion of The Second Rebel and truly delivers an action filled, heart pounding conclusion to the trilogy.

Following the explosive revelations of The Second Hero, First Sister Astrid has returned to the Moonborn and continues her search to understand more about Hringar and her origins. Hiro is determined to kill his father as he has little faith that that the trial will find his father guilty for his travesties but, finds themselves facing a moral and emotional battle.

Meanwhile Lily has stepped up to the role of Mother with the continuing internal civil war against Aunt Marshae, who is determined to consolidate control over the sisterhood and continues to build her reactionary army.

In parallel, the Asters are still facing an upward battle, as power forces seek to twist the revelations against them, which draws forth a divisive split that pulls them apart when they need to be united.

Surrounding all of these events the Synthetics, the artificial intelligence who have to date prevented humanity from expanding further into the Solar System are now pushed into a corner, and must now respond before humans self destruct.

Not one of these races are totally united in response, from Gaeans to Icarii to Asters to Moonborn and Synthetics; factions and divisions are rife, resulting in distrust, dissent and ultimately actions that plunge each and all further down the path to self-destruction.

I must quickly touch on Lewis’ world-building, from the first to the last book this has been mind blowingly brilliant. Lewis has delivered, worlds, societies, religions, technologies, philosophies and more with a deft touch that neither lectures nor bores but, places you carefully with awareness of the surroundings, people and more to firmly site you in this universe.

Lewis delivers multiple, crisscrossing storylines that deliver multiple character POVs, complex plots within plots and the resulting devastation and human impact beautifully. The upward trajectory of pace, politics and action that gradually built from The First Sister, through The Second Rebel to the conclusion of The Last Hero delivers a stunning finale to this trilogy that should not be missed.

I could talk forever about the way that Lewis deliver the political, philosophical and humanity, the questions raised around the greater good, the impact and influence of one against many but, that would deliver so many spoilers and you need to read this outstanding conclusion for yourself.

“To those who are struggling: Love yourself as an act of rebellion, even if you also want to change some things. Keep fighting, even when you feel like giving up, even if the only thing that keeps you going is spite. You are the only person with your voice; only you can tell your story.”

I absolutely adore the first the two books and this third one was not a disappointment! Such a great read with themes around identity, war etc. Highly recommended and I'll definitely be rereading from the beginning!

*The Last Hero* (out today) wraps up the First Sister trilogy, one of my favorite works of recent years. For those who have already read the first two volumes of this fantastic space opera: good news! Its ending did not disappoint. For those who have waited to start because they wanted the series to finish before they picked it up: dive in! For those who haven’t heard of this series, have I got a rec for you! For those who know of this series and have decided not to start/continue it: your opinions are bad and you should feel bad!

(Kidding, of course, but I really cannot say enough good things about this series.)

Lewis has continued to apply their trademark of “shocking twists that, while jaw dropping, actually make perfect sense in retrospect.” This time, though, we get them early on instead of at the climax. Our protagonists have expanded again: everyone you would expect from *The Second Rebel*, plus Castor. Other new editions include the not-unexpected Pollux and the entirely-unexpected [REDACTED]. The conflicts among the Icarii, the Gaens, and the Asters continue, as well as the internal conflicts within each faction. Looming over everything, though, is the Synthetics. We learn so much more about them, what they’re up to and what and why they want it. The nigh-omnipotent post-singularity AI isn’t a new trope in science fiction by any stretch, but this is a take on it I greatly enjoy.

One thing I particularly want to commend Linden on is their portrayal of the different kinds of loving relationships that are possible. Loving relationships in art are, in general, either romantic or familial, though there are plenty of deeply explored relationships that aren’t either. What’s very rare is for a relationship to be neither familial or romantic and still identity-defining. What I can honestly say I don’t think I’ve ever seen before is for a non-romantic relationship to be *passionate.* The love that Lito, Hiro, and Luce share among the three of them is exactly that, despite Lito and Luce being siblings and there never being even a hint of sexual tension with either of them and Hiro. It’s an impressive, and deeply affecting, thing.

I feel a little bit possessive of this series. I’d like to think that my pre-publication “ZOMG THIS IS AMAZING!” review of the first book, and my booking Linden to do an /r/Fantasy AMA, helped this series along at least a little bit. (Plus I am totally justified in indulging my inner hipster and boasting that I was into this series before it was cool.) I’m just delighted in how this ended, and can’t *wait* to see what the author is coming out with next.

An absolutely stunning end to this beautiful series!

The stakes have never been higher for our protagonists in this gripping finale, and the culmination of the multiple storylines and character POVs comes together so well.

I'm so sad it's over and I have to say goodbye to these amazing characters throughout the world Linden A. Lewis has so masterfully crafted.

It was an excellent, chaotic, gripping, fast paced, and highly entertaining series. This is the perfect final book and the best int he series.
it's hard to say goodbye to the characters and to this universe. An excellent queer space opera I loved.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

#scifisunday bookreview: The Last Hero by Linden A. Lewis 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is one of the BEST scifi series out there!! I cannot believe this is the author's debut, and I cannot believe this is the last book in the series!!
The First Sister trilogy starts off with the first book that feels a lot like The Handmaids Tale during an intergalactic war. The first sister Astrid who we follow on the spaceship Juno is a priestess of the sisterhood and travels alongside soldiers who basically use her like commanders use handmaidens. When the Juno gets a new commander (Saito Ren) she falls in love, which is not very convenient as she needs to spy on them for the Sisterhood.

I love that ever since the first book more perspectives and storylines are revealed. There are twists and turn, especially in the sevond book that had me gasping!!

When we learn that aside from the Ikari Empire and the Geans (that include the sisterhood), there is an outcast colony of misfits, a whole different species, and next level AI, everything gets to a gigantic intergalactic BOOM in the third book. Where polictics and negotiations are a life or death situation. And my all time favorite characters are very unsafe.

Please try this series if you love a cool scifi setting, intricate undercover plots, evil sisterhood with scheming aunts, and twisted family bonds!

No entiendo por qué la trilogía The First Sister de Linden A. Lewis no ha tenido más repercusión al menos por estas tierras, siendo como es una space opera reivindicativa, llena de giros de guion y con un elenco de personajes carismáticos de esos que dejan huella. Afortunadamente, con la última entrega la autora no solo deja el listón bien alto si no que cierra las tramas con mucha solvencia, ofreciéndonos el final que una serie tan buena merecía.


Me perdonaréis que empiece por el final, pero es que me ha parecido maravillosa la forma en que se narran los últimos capítulos de la historia, con un ritmo frenético, apoyado por un aviso de la probabilidad estadística de la extinción de la humanidad pero a su vez empezando cada capítulo con una pequeña “reubicación” del lector que enlaza el final del anterior con el principio del siguiente facilitando el cambio de punto de vista. Es una decisión acertadísima en medio de la confusión de la última batalla para que el hilo de la historia siga siendo perfectamente distinguible.

La novela en sí es bastante continuista con las anteriores, pero como se dice normalmente, si algo funciona, no lo toques. Me interesa mucho como Lewis mezcla tropos muy utilizados en la ciencia ficción, como la singularidad o la manipulación genética para lanzar un mensaje que haga despertar nuestras conciencias. El elitismo y la separación de clases son tan evidentes en esta sociedad como para provocar una revolución, pero de no ser por la amenaza de una fuerza exterior no llegaría el cambio en el status quo. Pero también toca temas tan importantes como la familia (natural y encontrada), el cumplimiento de las expectativas puestas en ti por los demás o cómo conseguir abrir tu propio camino.

Los personajes son polifacéticos y dotados de una gran profundidad. Me entusiasma la evolución de todos ellos, desde Astrid a Hiro, desde Lito a Luce… Y la vía no ha estado exenta de sufrimiento y dolor. Los sacrificios que todos han de llevar a cabo son realmente titánicos pero en la mayoría de los casos consiguen mejorar. Aquí hay un mensaje optimista que no debemos pasar por alto, que puede servir como luz en la oscuridad.

También me ha gustado especialmente cómo algunos temas que aparecían en la primera novela influyen en esta última entrega, en la que vemos cómo todo o casi todo tenía una razón de ser que explicaba ciertos comportamientos que podían parecer anómalos.

En definitiva, esta novela es un broche de oro para una trilogía que no entiendo cómo no está todavía publicada en español. Editoriales españolas, echadle el lazo pero ya.