A stunning conclusion to the sci-fi romance duology by writing duo Krista & Becca Ritchie, The Last Hope is filled with twists and turns you’ll never see coming. Sacrifice all you have to survive. Imprisoned for weeks on an enemy starcraft, Franny, Court, and Mykal have sat with an unfathomable revelation. But as they fight to stay alive, escaping prison means trusting a young mysterious … prison means trusting a young mysterious stranger. He knows everything about their lost histories, and when answers aren’t given freely, the bonded trio are forced to join a mission. One that will determine the fate of humanity.
Legend says, a baby–the first of her species–has the power to cloak and teleport planets. Tasked with retrieving the infant, Court fears the baby is just a myth, and if they fail, they’ll never find the truth about their origins.
As Court and Mykal grow closer, their linked bond becomes harder to hide, and dynamics change when Franny begins to fall for someone new. Vulnerable and with no choice, the hunt for the baby sends the trio on a dangerous path to Saltare-1: a water world where their enemies can’t die and survival comes at a high cost.
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The Last Hope is the conclusion to The Raging Ones Duet. I was happy to be reunited with the great set of characters. The blurb summarizes this book perfectly so I will not really go into that. Krista and Becca did a great job with this duet. It was original, mysterious, suspenseful, emotional, funny and romantic. It did take me longer to finish this book, I didn’t get the urge to binge-read it in one or two sittings. There were a couple of times, especially in the beginning of the book, that I thought the story was moving too fast. I had no idea how everything could be resolved in one book. However, the authors surprised me and did a pretty good job in telling a complete story.
Franny, Court, and Mykal are such amazing main characters and I enjoyed reading their POVs. All the side characters were very important as well, and I loved how all the relationships developed even further. We learn so much new in this book and a couple of those revelations really surprised me, and added another layer to the story. I think the authors did a great job in adding the twist to the story. I loved that everything was so easy to understand, and not confusing (which is sometimes the case with fantasy/scifi books). I really enjoyed this duet and am very sad to say goodbye to all the characters. I really hope Krista and Becca will decide to write more books in this genre, because they are pretty good at it.
I don’t know what to say, other than I wish it had never ended.
It’s been a few weeks now, since I finished The Last Hope, and I still haven’t reconciled that it’s really over. Krista and Becca Ritchie gave me more than I could have ever asked for, more than I could have even imagined, in the conclusion to Court, Mykal, and Franny’s story. I’m getting weepy again, just thinking about saying a final good-bye to them, and the rest of the crew.
I’ve been waiting on The Last Hope since I closed the final page of The Raging Ones last year- it’s been my most anticipated book of 2019. And K & B did not let me down. There were twists I wasn’t expecting, turns I wasn’t prepared for, and tears I couldn’t contain. From the moment I started The Raging Ones, until I read the last word in The Last Hope, the world that these ladies created held me captive. I wish I could have transported myself, to be with Franny, Mykal, and Court, as they went on this incredible journey.
The Last Hope was such a wonderful story, I loved everything about it…except the fact that it had to end. It was such an intriguing and entertaining story, really heartfelt and oh so compelling.
I loved seeing Mykal and Court’s relationship deepen, even with the obstacles they faced. Ugh, I just adore them. I really enjoyed seeing a different side to Franny in this story, there was a lot she had to come to terms with and I liked being right there along side her. I love the connection that these three share. It was interesting to see how they learned to handle such an important part of themselves- how they were able to accept it and use it, and how to distance themselves from it as well. I loved the new character who was introduced, and the old friends we got to see again.
This is such a special duet. It’s one I know I’ll be revisiting again and again, because it’s just so hard to say good-bye.
This is the best book I’ve read in 2019. And I don’t see anything topping it. This is a high bar, but this may be the best book Krista and Becca have ever written. I thought The Raging Ones was a great story, but this was so much better.
I’m going to avoid spoilers, but eventually I thinking I’m going to have to go there. Maybe I’ll do a discussion video on my YouTube channel.
The characters are fantastic. I think Franny is still my favorite, but Court and Mikhal are also fantastic. I started to really like Court (as his own person) and not just as part of the friendship trio or a couple. There was so much great character development in this story. Not just the main three-I love the side characters, too. There’s a new character introduced in this book who I’m living for.
That plot!!! I had no idea where this was going to go after The Raging Ones ended. I could never have predicted this plot, but it was exactly what I needed. Just like the first book, so much happened, but it was paced perfectly. After these two books, Krista and Becca could teach a master class in story construction.
Sci-fi isn’t a genre I reach for all the time. Sometimes it confuses me too much and interferes with my enjoyment. This was the perfect amount of sci-fi world building for me. The Ritchies’ word choice was a great tool for explaining differences. I can’t wait to re-read The Raging Ones (again) with all the new knowledge I have.
I have no idea if Krista and Becca will ever write another non-contemporary story, but I really hope they do. The world needs more stories like this. I also can’t wait for the audio book. I hope it has the same narrators as the first one, because they were spectacular. Their voice-acting with this beautiful story would be beyond perfection.
OK, I’ll stop fangirling now.
Amazing !
This book is so bloody good everyone needs to read it.
This is a fantastical tale and so very well written. This has been the case with all of the books by the Ritchie sisters I’ve read so far. Their world-building abilities are fan-f***ing-tastic. But there are so much to love about these books – and their writing in general. The characters in this two-book series are beautifully depicted. They’re lovable sure, but mostly they’re like people in general. Everyone fighting their own demons. With their own flaws, insecurities and dreams. There’s a rawness to the writing-style that I adore. No overly silly mush or flowery speeches. Interactions feel real and imperfect – just like real life. Despite the setting being so alien. Pun intended.
Another thing making me crush even harder on the Ritchies is their unaffected portrayal of love. In The Raging Ones and The Last Hope, they’ve created a world where it’s perfectly natural to fall in love with another person – no matter the sex. And it’s not the main focus of the story which is truly refreshing. I think that’s definitely the kind of literature all people should read, whether they be young or old, straight or queer.
But as with all reads, no matter how awesome they are, I have comments. In this case, the reason is definitively cultural differences. Because I don’t think I’ll ever understand the American double standard of accepting violence and gore in games/movies/books meant for young people while physical encounters between loving partners are not. The Raging Ones and The Last Hope are no exceptions that way. They’re brutal, gory and grim. But any mentioning of physical love is delicate and only implied. One should think it would be the other way around. Promoting love instead of violence. But no. Quite counterintuitive.
But that’s just an American quirk. It doesn’t really affect the awesomeness of this read. I can’t recommend these books enough. Read them. Love them.
For full review: https://reflectionsofaswedishgirl.blog.se/
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Last Hope
By: Krista & Becca Ritchie
*REVIEW*
I began The Last Hope blind because I never read The Raging Ones. I was confused at first, but bits of information began to show the bigger picture of the story. The link between Franny, Court and Mykal seems like a terrible thing to endure. I would hate it because there is no privacy, and it’s kind of like being controlled. I grew to love these characters with all of their quirks and complexities. Each one is written so perfectly to occupy their own unique space, yet they share their humanity. Franny, Court and Mykal are learning what it means to be human, fragile and insecure with no known expiration date, and it’s both scary and exciting. They want answers about their lives, and Stork has these answers, which he uses as leverage so they will aid him on an important mission. Stork is a new acquaintance who has a major impact on the lives of the three. Of course, they can’t tell him about the link between them. How much does Stork already know? For all of his devil may care persona, Stork is actually very smart and observant. What information does he possess about Franny, Court and Mykal? Does Stork know how or why they ended up on the wrong planet? They agree to help with the mission in exchange for information. I won’t delve into that, though. The story is sharp, fast paced and totally consuming. It’s serious, funny, happy and sad. The characters are loveable, flawed and entertaining, and you will become so invested in the outcome because it’s like you know them personally. Just read it, and you’ll understand what I mean. I could not put this one down. From the first page, I was lost to everything else except reading this book. I definitely recommend!
The Last Hope picks up thirty-one days after the events of The Raging Ones. Frannie, Mykal, and Court are being held captive on the Romulus. Resigned to dying, they are surprised when Stork rescues them. Stork in an enigma. He is a Saltarian working with the humans, something that hasn’t been heard of before. Once the trio is brought to the human ship, they learn why they were freed. They also learned the heavy price that the humans paid for their freedom. Buy, they also learn of a myth. An infant with the powers to cloak and teleport planets has been born. It is up to Frannie, Mykal and Court to find the baby, retrieve her and save Earth. If they can’t, then it will be destroyed. Can they do it?
After the cliffhanger that ended The Raging Ones, I was waiting for The Last Hope to come out. I needed to read this book. I was curious to see where the authors were going to take Frannie, Mykal, and Court. I wanted to explore more of their bond. I am happy to report that the authors explained everything and more in The Last Hope.
I loved how the author showed how Franny, Court, and Mykal’s bond worked. While they did somewhat show it in The Raging Ones, it was on full display here. I loved it. Franny did get the short end of the stick when it came to the bond. She felt everything, including Court and Mykal’s intimate moments. That scene where she was sleeping in Stork’s bed with Zimmer highlighted it perfectly. I also liked when the tables were turned on Court and Mykal when she kissed Stork. I laughed through the whole scene.
I did feel bad for Stork, but at the same time, I was annoyed with him. He knew so much about Mykal, Franny, and Court’s past. I understood that he had a promise to keep, but still. I liked that I couldn’t read him either. Usually, I wouldn’t say that. But I loved it. I liked not knowing what he was thinking. It made him even more mysterious.
I loved that the authors brought Zimmer, Kinden, Padgett, and Gem into the story. Along with Mykal, Franny, and Court, I had thought they were banished. So, when they showed up at the Lucretzia, I was surprised. Even surprised that they cared enough about the Mykal, Franny, and Court to find them and attempt to rescue them. I was even more amazed when Stork allowed them to stay aboard the Lucretzia.
I was worried about the romance between Court and Mykal for 90% of the book. I figured that since they weren’t on Saltare-3 and once they were rescued by Stork that they could be together. Instead, they were forced to uncouple and act like they didn’t have feelings for each other. My heart was broken. Of course, things do get rectified but still. Uggh.
I was worried about the romance between Court and Mykal for 90% of the book. I figured that since they weren’t on Saltare-3 and once they were rescued by Stork that they could be together. Instead, they were forced to uncouple and act like they didn’t have feelings for each other. My heart was broken. Of course, things do get rectified but still. Uggh.
The storyline involving finding the baby was interesting. I liked that they had to search four different orphanages to find her. Then there was the twist to that plotline. Talk about taking me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting what was revealed to be revealed.
The end of The Last Hope fell a little short for me. I was mad that a specific character ended up dying. OMG, I was so angry. I was hoping that the character’s death date was later than sooner. I did like that everyone got their HEA. Even though this is a duology, I am hoping that certain characters get their books. I would love to see a book with Kinden in it!!!
The Last Hope is engaging, surprising, and a fitting conclusion to the Raging Ones duet. Court, Mykal, and Franny are tested as they learn new things about themselves and their history. Their will to survive and their bond has pulled them through so far, but their dynamic changes as Court and Mykal grow closer and Franny finds herself drawn to someone new. They take risks and have to decide who to trust if they want to survive and finally know their own histories. Krista and Becca Ritchie provided plenty of surprises and twists and turns in a really well-crafted story. The Ritchie’s developed complex characters that you’ll care about and root for in an unforgiving world.
{I received this as an ARC in exchange for an Honest review}
“The Last Hope” brings an end to this incredible one of a kind duet! I am in complete awe of these two books. This final book was insane. The ending of “The Raging Ones” left me in a state of shock and “The Last Hope” gave me everything I was looking for and so much freaking more. This book has it all. It has fight, passion and adventure. It gives these characters a greater purpose. Court, Mykal, and Franny have had their entire life turned upside down once again and they have to figure out where they belong in this big galaxy. On this last adventure things get crazy. My heart was pumping so hard throughout this entire book. Krista and Becca wrote twists that I NEVER saw coming. I was so shocked that I literally had to put the book down for a moment just to process what just happened. This story has so many amazing surprises that just keep you wanting more. We get to meet new characters and I am so in Love with them. Stork is my new love. The adventure and mystery this book brings is incredible. The Love in this is everything. Court and Mykal have my whole heart. They go through some things in this book and I was just rooting and living for their happiness. Franny finally starts to fall in like/love and it was so wonderful to watch. These couples make me smile so much. I honestly love these characters with my whole heart. This book has given me EVERYTING I never knew I needed. I could go on and on about how much I truly loved this book and how I believe it is one of the BEST young adult sci-fi books of our time. So I am going to end my review with this…
“Live Hard and Fast and Full” This duet has inspired me to do just that. You all MUST read this duet. You Have to meet these wonderful characters Franny, Court, Mykal and all the other important side characters as well. They will have you falling in love and never wanting to let them go. I know I will never forget about them and to me that is a sign of a great book. When you still find yourself thinking about the characters and their story long after you have finished. These two books will consume you in the best ways. “The Raging Ones” Duet is a must have in your life. “The Last Hope” Is a masterpiece.
After reading and very much enjoying The Raging Ones, I couldn’t wait to jump into this second installment. Especially with that cliffy still fresh in my mind
As I have said before…sci-fi is not really my thing but these two amazing authors have managed to pull me in from the very first page of the very first book. It was also a bit refreshing, reading something completely different. Just make sure you read the first book, before starting this one
Court, Mykal and Franny’s are in some predicament, but their bond is still as strong as ever, and help is about to come from somewhere (or I should say “someone”) unexpected.. Stork is about to rescue the three…but nothing is for free. They will need to help him out with a new mission….a mission to save earth.
What I enjoyed most of the first book was that I got to read all three POV’s and therefore their thoughts. This way I didn’t feel like anyone was excluded…since not all three of them are romantically involved. In this second installment, we also get a fourth POV, Stork’s.
I myself really enjoyed the introduction of Stork, and I think Franny did as well… they were pretty cute
Court and Mykal managed to even deepen their feelings for one another and it was lovely to be a part of that.
If you are into sci-fi or you are willing to try something new, you should definitely give this series a go.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review
I honestly don’t know where to begin! The Last Hope by Krista & Becca Ritchie picks up thirty days after the end of The Raging Ones. Franny, Court, and Mykal are in a cell on board the Saltare-1 ship Romulus. Their friends – Kinden, the Soarcastle sisters, and Zimmer – are not with them, and they fear the worst. Revelations at the end of book one have left the trio’s minds in chaos. They aren’t Saltarians, they are humans. When an unknown saves them from the Romulus, Franny, Court, and Mykal have one goal: to survive.
Being Human
Court was seriously injured at the end of the first book, and now believes he is dying. His only recourse to be sure that Mykal and Franny survive. But this link between them has him concerned. If he dies, what happens to them? Court was (and is) my favorite character. He finally has opened up to a relationship with Mykal, and this tempers his cool exterior. Court cares too much, and it becomes an issue now that he is linked.
Mykal takes being human in stride. It honestly doesn’t seem to affect him that much. He was raised as a Grenpalish and that is who he is. He worships their gods and remembers the only parent he had. Then he meets Stork(more on him in a minute), the unknown that saves them from Romulus, and well let’s just say, he’s got a new family member
Franny takes the news the hardest. She has struggled since surviving her deathday with the fear of the unknown. She wants to know when she will die. There is security in that for her, except she can’t know. She will never know as a human when she will die. Then there’s her nosebleeds. Every time they happen she fears for her life. And now she’s human, fragile. She doesn’t really know how to handle that.
The Saltarian Conflict
The plot of this book focuses on why the Saltarians hate humans. It also dives deeper into the whys surrounding Franny, Court, and Mykal. I found myself fascinated with the world-building here. The history the authors give Earth and the conflict with the Saltarians is interesting to say the least. But it’s the new character that is introduced early in the story that caught my attention.
Stork is a bludrader, Saltarian blood traitor. Like Franny, Court, and Mykal, he was stolen away at birth and raised on another planet. He was taken from his parents and Mykal was left in his place. Stork is a Saltarian raised by humans. He shows everyone that just because he is Saltarian doesn’t mean he can’t love humans. He carries the world on his shoulders, and my heart breaks for him instantly. There is so much he isn’t allowed to share with the trio and so much he wants too.
Stork with the help of Franny, Court, and Mykal have one mission: return to Saltare-1 and retrieve a baby, a new species that could save Earth from Saltare.
Final Thoughts
Overall I really enjoyed The Last Hope. There are plenty of answers to the questions burdening the trio, and I was happy with those. I wish it could’ve been longer. I want to know more about this world and see more of Franny, Court, and Mykal. If you enjoy YA sci-fi, I highly recommend it.
***I received an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.***
Not sure what it is about this novel that makes this novel less exciting than it could be. The plot is interesting, of that there is no doubt. The story is interesting, the plot is interesting enough to keep the reader somewhat engaged, but there is something about the pace of the novel that makes the story dull and uninteresting. It is not even that the characters are uninteresting; they are, especially given the representation going on here. Court and Mykal are in a relationship, and it is beautiful to see their relationship grow and survive through all the struggles they face. To see the kind of love they have for one another is fantastic, and to see it flourish in this novel is one of the better highlights of this novel.
The characters have come a long way from the previous novel, and not just the main characters but also the minor characters as well. They have all developed and grown, of that there is no doubt.
However, the pace of the story is lacking. Moreover, it is not as if nothing is happening; things are happening; these characters have come to know some undeniable truths about their history that explains so much to them. However, the pacing, the dialogue, and narrative, something is lacking about it that makes the story seem so slow.
The authors do a good job summarizing the passage of time, and they do an excellent job of making sure that the vital information is not just packed in at one moment, they make sure that the story has substance, but when it comes to the pacing, something is lacking. Some of the scenes, they do not flow as strongly as others; they linger too much on internal narrative and exposition without the dialogue fully utilized to capture the importance of the scene.
Ultimately, while the story presented has both a unique premise and strong characters, the pacing leaves a lot to be desired.
Science fiction has never been a genre I was fond of. I’m more of a fantasy and romance reader, but Krista and Becca Ritchie have made me a fan!
The Last Hope is a fantastic conclusion to The Raging Ones duology. I devoured every page of this story, unable to read the words fast enough. Krista and Becca Ritchie imbued the perfect amounts of adventure, suspense, and romance into The Last Hope.
As long as the Ritchie sisters keep writing science fiction, I will keep reading it!
I voluntarily received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
”After all that we’ve been through, we deserve a better ending.”
Wow. That was fykking awesome. Mayday.
Well, what exactly can I say to describe this book without spoiling it? Honestly, not very much. What I can say is that Krista and Becca Ritchie once again take us on an adventure with our linked trio of Franny, Mykal, and Court.
We start off where we left off in book one. Then, somehow a whole new and unexpected mission begins. I read a few reviews before I started that mentioned that TLH felt like an entirely new story, and I was a bit afraid. After reading, I can somewhat see that, but to me it feels like the next step in a journey. We get some new settings, a few new characters, the reappearance of some old ones, and a new mission. Our trio gets the much awaited answers to some of their (Ok Franny’s) questions. What I especially liked is the arc that Franny’s story takes. Of course I love Mykal and Court, but Franny was sort of the outlier even in TRO. In The Last Hope everyone has time to shine and finds more of their place.
All in all it’s just an all around good read. It kept me turning pages wanting to find out what would happen next. There is some world building once again in this book, but the authors kept it a bit tighter so it didn’t feel like reading another series opener. I can honestly say I enjoyed this installment a bit more than the first one. And the ending. Sigh. That’s all I can really say, but yeah. Sigh.
The perfect conclusion to this duology. Book one, The Raging Ones set the stage for this book, so it is more dense in the information you’re given, but that information and the relationship building flowed flawlessly and made this conclusion phenomenal.
If you’ve ever read a Ritchie sisters book, you know the made family trope is a specialty of theirs, and this series is no exception. This made family is one of my favorites, because the relationships are well built and make my heart ache. The Last Hope is also action packed and full of surprises. During the last 200 or so pages, you couldn’t have made me put this book down. The need to know how things would turn out and what would happen next kept me turning the pages.
One of the best young adult science fiction novels I’ve ever read. If you enjoyed The Illuminae Files, I have a feeling you’ll love this series.