For generations they’ve defended the wall… defeat an ancient foe.
What is her first move?
Is she prepared for what she’ll find outside the cloistered walls?
In a broken empire, a darkness grows. The bleak future sows panic among the people. As Kaiya sets out to avenge her fallen sisters, she finds her training won’t be enough to defeat the army that creeps across the land. She must learn to lead.
And she must develop her powers.
Will there be time?
You’ll love this first book in this new Military Fantasy series, because the solutions aren’t always obvious, and the true danger can’t be known.
Get it now.
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Title: The Last Faoii
Series: The Faoii Chronicles
Author: Tahani Nelson
Genre: War/Action-Adventure/Quest/Female-Centric Action Hero
No of pages: 294
What is the book about?
The idyllic setting of her young life is shattered and Kaiya is the last Faoii-warrior left or so she thinks. This book creates a credible alternate universe and a host of supporting beliefs and vocabulary too. The action is mindblowing and the theme that the lot of the common man does not change, whoever be the ruler is generally touched upon. Though at the onset, the world in the book seems to be a male versus female one, the later chapters bring a balance to the perspective.
What I liked about the book?
Many things. First, the opening chapter both introduces us to the main character and the villain. And puts the reader right in the middle of action. The main character Kaiya has to meet with many obstacles in her path. She also forges new bonds. A tough action hero is a difficult character to paint and Tahani Nelson has done an admirable job.
The plot is well structured. There are no noticeable errors. And the prose is refreshing. The reader (me, me!) is hooked and will go to any lengths to complete the book and the series.
What I didn’t like?
Nothing here.
Similarities with other books:
The protagonist’s chat with her Goddess was reminiscent of Harry Potter’s post “death” chat with Dumbledore. There are a few flashes from other books I’ve read. But this is a hazard for books dealing with quest /revenge. The plus point here is the scope is vast and the execution matches it. I could visualise the scenes happening and wouldn’t be surprised if one day this were turned into a screenplay. A great book, Tahani Nelson.
Stars: 5 stars
Wow, what a way to open a book! (and a series)
Before I continue with the rest of this review, I have a confession to make. Being a man, I was reluctant about starting this book. I had feared it might be so exclusively about warrior women I wouldn’t be able to associate with it. However, that fear was quickly alleviated as that’s not at all what this book is only about. It’s as much only about warrior women as Lord of the Rings is only about hobbits. If you are a fan of fantasy, regardless of your genre or age, then this book is for you.
Throughout this book, Tahani Nelson not only takes us on a fast-paced journey into her world using dynamic and imaginative scenes but she does so with descriptions weaving a tapestry of words that build a story that’ll be sure to stay with you and bring the characters to life as if you’d known them all along. Normally, I might say Tahani’s a “witch with words”, but, after reading the book, I realize this might be seen as an insult in the world of Faoii, so I’ll instead only call her a “Preoii with prose”.
There are two things I like most about this book, beyond the fantastic story structure and its believable, memorable characters, and the way they are so wonderfully delivered. Two things that make this book unlike any I’ve read before. The first of these is the way magic is used in the story. It’s not the “in-your-face” magic you typically see in other fantasy stories. Instead, the little magic that does appear is as natural as say, nature, itself. And it’s presented in unique ways that I’ve, personally, never encountered before. The second thing I like most about this story is the subtle, timeless message it leaves the reader with long after the story has ended. It’s not simply good versus evil, or dark versus light, but you’ll have to read it to fully under what I mean by this.
All in all, this book does exactly what we expect from great fiction, and then more. Well-described story and characters that escort you into another world, pull on your imagination and emotions, and then gently release you back into reality while leaving you both satisfied and in wonderment.
Finally, to conclude this review, I feel the need to say…
Wow, what a way to end a book! (I, for one, didn’t see that coming)
A wonderfully written story with a great female protagonist. Right from the get go, there’s an action packed battle that immediatedy immerses you in the flow of this masterfully written story. I highly recommend this one!
Tahani Nelson’s first novel, THE LAST FAOII, is notable on so many levels! She is a creator of a world and it’s inhabitants that engages the reader immediately. Then she leads us into unpredictable and haunting and inspirational situations with multi-layered characters. It’s original, it’s entertaining…and I’m pretty sure it’s a series. Superb Fantasy.